Henry James Stannus

Henry James Stannus was born on 3 April 1824, the third son of Rev James Stannus, Rector of Ballinderry Connor and Dean of Ross. He was commissioned as a cornet on 31 Dec 1840 and joined the 5th Bengal Light Cavalry on 16 July 1841. The miniature portrait shows him as a young cornet in the uniform of the 5th BLC with their distinctive black facings. He soon found himself in Afghanistan for the First Afghan War, forcing the Khyber Pass and fighting in the battle at Mamu Khai. He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 Nov 1842 and in Oct 1843, Sir Hugh Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, selected his personal escort from the 5th BLC with Lieutenant Stannus in command. He was in that capacity at the Battle of Maharajpore in Dec 1843.
In Jan 1844 he was offered the Adjutancy of the Gwalior Cavalry regiment then being formed but he turned it down. In March he joined the Governor-General’s Bodyguard and remained with them throughout the 1st Sikh War so that he was present at Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon. He rejoined the 5th BLC in late 1846 and went on an expedition to Kote Kangra against the Sikhs. He was ADC to Sir Hugh Wheeler, commander of the force. When he returned to the 5th BLC he joined them in their operations ‘in the hills’ under the command of the CO William Alexander, for several months.
In the 2nd Sikh War he was again in command of Sir Hugh Gough’s escort with a Troop of the 5th BLC. He was at Ramnuggur, Chillianwallah and Goojerat where he was severely wounded. Edward Joseph Thackwell, in his account of the Sikh Wars wrote that at the battle of Goojerat:
‘..the Goorchurras, …swarmed in clusters. A large party of these men penetrated to the rear of the heavy guns, and approached Lord Gough. The personal escort, a Troop of the 5th Light Cavalry, under Lieutenant Stannus, however, charged and achieved the complete destruction of these men. This gallant officer, however, received a severe wound on this occasion.’
He returned to Ireland on furlough to recover from his wounds but came back to India in Feb 1852 and was offered the command of the 1st Punjab Cavalry, but he declined this in favour of the post of Adjutant in Fort William, and Superintendent of Gentleman Cadets. In Sep 1853 he was appointed Deputy Paymaster of the Meerut Division and was given a brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in Nov 1853. He was present at the outbreak of mutiny at Meerut in May 1857. Following the disbandment of the 5th BLC he joined the 2nd Bengal European Light Cavalry and when they became the 20th Hussars he was appointed CO. While with the 20th he served at Marsa Meer in 1864, Kainilpore in 1865 and Campbellpore in 1866-69. He went on furlough in April 1870 and sailed to England but on his return he commanded the Umbella Division. He was promoted to major-general in 1873 and went once more to England.
Stannus was very disappointed with his promotions and had interviews with all possible officers in Whitehall, being convinced that he had been overlooked. He sent a long detailed account to the Duke of Cambridge, and a 20-page article was published in Colburn’s United Service Magazine, quoting letters and meetings. However, he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 Oct 1877 and General on 26 June 1879. He was rewarded for Meritorious Service and given unattached pay of one pound ten shillings a day. He was married (in 1851) to Sarah Oliver and they had five daughters. He died on 30 May 1898 in Ebury Street, London.

Regimental Details | Officers