Thomas Alphonso Cary


Thomas Alphonso Cary, born c1840, in Canada, joined the army as an ensign in the West India Regiment on 13 May 1859. He was a lieutenant on 11 Apr 1862 and went to West Africa with his regiment for the disastrous campaign of 1863-64. He reached the rank of captain on 23 Mar 1866, and on 13 Dec of that year exchanged to the 13th Light Infantry. He was brevet of major on 31 Dec 1878 and on 1 July 1881 was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, second in command of the 2nd Battalion. Colonel Cary was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion on 23 June 1885, and in September marched his men from Enniskillen and Londonderry to Birr. From there they proceeded to Colchester in October. On 1 May 1887 he relinquished command and, on his retirement was promoted to honorary major-general. He lived in Denbighshire with his wife Caroline (nee Haskell) who he married in 1887. The photo shows him in regimental undress uniform with rank badges for full colonel. The embroidered badge of the Somerset Light Infantry on his forage cap is the pre-1881 type with 13 in Roman numerals.


Regimental Details | Commanding Officers


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames


by Stephen Luscombe