Captain the Hon. John Pleydell-Bouverie, 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers

Captain John Pleydell-Bouverie
--Present at the actions of Zuinguin Mountain and Ulundi (Medal with Clasp)from Hart's Army List
--Served on the court at the court martial of Lt. Carey for the charge of misbehaviour before the enemy

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Cornet or 2nd Lieut......Purchase 27Feb67
Lieutenant....................Purchase 18Aug69
Captain........................28March77

Great Photo. I thought Carey wasn't court Marshalled.

As I understand, Carey was found guilty at the investigative proceedings held in Zululand shortly after the Prince Imperial's death. Captain Pleydell-Bouverieof the 17th Lancers served on this court. However, this guilty verdict was dismissed later on in England when authorities found that the members of the Zululand court had not been sworn in.

Telegram dated 12June79 from Clifford-PMB to Commandant Conference Hill (Colonel Davies)

"Following just received from Lord Chelmsford---Result of Court of Inquiry into circumstances connected with the death of Prince Imperial has necessitated the trial by Court Martial of Lieut. Carey 98th"


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Didn't the prince's mother and Queen Victoria stop the proceedings against Carey.

Some things bever achange. Even 132 years ago, well connected young officers were getting off on technicalities.

How did young Lt. Carey's career develop after the Zulu war?

The Queen refused to confirm the courts martial result because the CM had been constructed incorrectly.( they werent sworn in). Judge Dowd also found there was insufficient evidence that Carey was actually in command of the patrol. It was on Judge Dowds summary that the conviction was squashed.
So one cant say that the Queen was influenced by his family or connections, her top legal mind had the responsibility, she had no option but to concur. Royalty even then, as now, has no power to disagree with her government.
Unless of course you talk to potatoes and believe in infidelity.
Carey was effectivly dispatched to Coventry by his peers. Quote from Filon, " a dead man amongst the living".
He dissapeared into obscurity really. The last army list entry has him as Senior Captain of the 98th stationed in India. He died there on 22nd Jan 1883 of peritonitis.

There are a few places in the world that seem to remember events that have happened, isandlwana is one, so is Belsen concentration camp. The place of the Princes death is another. If you sit at the back of the enclosure under the shade of the trees and kick away all the little buggers scrounging for money you get the same sence of forlorn atmosphere. Its an isolated spot in the middle of the plain next to the stream, 2 to 3 kilometers of grass plains waving in the winds.............................. peacefull.

Here endeth the musings.

Regards

Regards

tasker224 wrote:

How did young Lt. Carey's career develop after the Zulu war?

Commissioned as an Ensign, 3rd West Indies Regiment in 1865 he served as a volunteer in the Red Cross (English Ambulance) during the Franco-Prussian
War and was present at the siege of Paris. He took up a Lieutenancy in the 81st in 1871, exchanging to the 98th two years later. He served overseas in Africa, West Indies, Gibraltar, South Africa, Malta and India.
Sent as a Special Service Officer in charge of reinforcement drafts for 1st/24th, he took up an appointment as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General on the advance of Ulundi and although his duties were varied he was mainly employed on surveying and mapping. He was present at the ambush of the reconnaissance patrol on 1st June in which the Prince Imperial was killed.
Died: - On service at Karachi, India, February 1883.

Thanks for the info. Seems like his life was cut short, so the Q about career is not that relevant!

According to an article in a Devon newspaper, the Sidmouth Herald: “The Hon John Pleydell-Bouverie (1846-1925) was born at Longford Castle in Wiltshire, the fourth son of the Earl of Radnor. He became an officer in the 17th Lancers, a prestigious cavalry regiment famous for its role in the Charge of the Light Brigade. He served with them in the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa, fighting at the Battle of Ulundi. The 17th Lancers were then sent to India and were stationed there for the whole of the 1880s.”

That would explain the John Pleydell-Bouverie Zulu/South Africa medals and documents in the overall lot.

John Pleydell-Bouverie married Grace Harriet Mallaby in 1882, daughter of Colonel Robert Mallaby, 13th NI Bombay Staff Corps (which links with the Mallaby medal detail above). Grace died in Sidmouth, which fits with the Devon information.

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