Sir Edward Harris Greathed

Edward Harris Greathed was born in London on 8 June 1812. He was the elder son of Edward Greathed and Mary Glyn of Uddens near Wimborne, Dorset. Edward was educated at Westminster School and commissioned into the 8th King’s Regiment on 22 June 1832. In 1833, as a lieutenant, he sailed with the regiment to the West Indies. He purchased his promotion to captain in April 1838, serving a year in Canada and then going to India in 1846. By 1857, when the Mutiny broke out, he had been a lieutenant-colonel for 3 years. He was in command of the 8th Regiment when they arrived on the Delhi Ridge on 30 June. He was involved in the repulse of three separate sorties by the mutineers on 9, 14, and 18 July. He commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade which repulsed an enemy attack on 23 July. On 7 Sep he commanded a column that occupied the Khoodsia Bagh and Ludlow Castle near the Kashmiri Gate. He led the regiment in the storming of the breach near the Water Bastion.
Once inside the city the regiment remained under the command of Greathed for 5 days. The commander of the besieging force, Archdale Wilson selected Greathed to command a moveable column which left Delhi on 24 Sep to chase mutineers fleeing into Oudh. There was an action at Boolundshuhur, and Greathed sent the wounded to Meerut before resuming his march on 3 Oct. He headed towards Lucknow to join Havelock’s column in the relief of that city. But he received desperate messages calling for help at Agra where British families were in danger of attack. He gave up on his plan to link up with Havelock to go to Agra, but when he arrived the danger had been averted. However, as the men relaxed there was a surprise attack which was fought off with artillery and prompt action. The column rested for a few days before continuing to Lucknow.
Greathed was put in command of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Sir Colin Campbell’s army, from 10 Nov 1857 to 9 Jan 1858. The brigade took part in the relief of Sir James Outram’s force at Dilkusha, and the defeat of Tantia Tope at Cawnpore on 6 Dec 1857. In January 1858 he was created CB and promoted to full Colonel. He returned to England in 1859, placed on half-pay until 1872 when he was given command of the Eastern District. In 1880 he was promoted to General and made Colonel of the 108th Regiment.
He was married three times, on 8 Mar 1854 he married Louisa Frances Archer at Allahabad, but she died on 16 Oct 1857. On 19 Dec 1860 he married Ellen Mary Tuffnell, at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. They had a daughter, Helena, born in 1862, but Ellen died on 10 Feb 1863. On 4 Aug 1869 he married Charlotte Frederica Caroline Osborn at Campton, Beds. She was the daughter of Sir George Robert Osborn, 6th Bt, and Lady Charlotte Kerr. They had a son, Edward (1870-1893) and 3 daughters; Charlotte (1872-1952), Georgina (1872-1954) and Dorothy (1875-1951). General Sir Edward Greathed KCB died at the family home in Dorset on 19 Nov 1881. Charlotte lived to the age of 72 and died in 1908.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers