Major-General Boyce Albert Combe CB

Boyce Albert Combe was born on 28 Aug 1841 the son of Charles James Fox Combe and Eliza Roberts. He had throughout his military career a strong association with India. A former Cadet of the Honourable East India Company Army, he was gazetted a Cornet on August 27 1860, and was an officer in the 21st Hussars in their early days (they were raised in 1862 from the 3rd Bengal European Cavalry). He was promoted to Lieutenant on May 3 1865. He took part in the 1866-67 Abyssinian campaign with the 3rd Scinde Horse, and was present as the Orderly Officer to Colonel Fraser at the action of Arogee, and capture of Magdala. He then returned to the 21st Hussars where for some time he held the appointment of adjutant.
On October 30 1871 he married Helen Edith (d. 29 May 1892), daughter of Major-General Lousada Barrow CB. They had a daughter, Aline. He was promoted to Captain on 12 Feb 1873, and on 17 Oct exchanged into the 10th Hussars, by then in India. On 13 Mar 1877 he left Bombay on board the Troopship Jumna for England, reaching Portsmouth on April 14. On June 7 1877, he was presented to his Colonel, the Prince of Wales, at a Levee held at St. James's Palace. The photo shows him in the uniform of a captain of the 10th Hussars in 1879, serving in the Second Afghan War. He was made brevet-major in November of that year. He was Military Secretary to the C-in-C India on 11 Sep 1885, and on 12 Feb 1886 was appointed Commanding Officer of the 19th Hussars, until 1888. He was made CB on 25 May 1889 and put in command of the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot on 1 Jan 1895. He also held the appointment of Commander of the Curragh District in 1896 with the rank of Major-General, and was a District Commander in India in 1900. On 9 July 1904 he was Colonel of the 14th Hussars, an appointment he held until his death on 3 June 1920.

Regimental Details | 14th Hussars Colonels