Colonel H. L. Ellaby

Colonel H. L. Ellaby served with the expedition to China in 1860, and was present at the capture of the Taku Forts (Medal with Clasp). Also served in the operations against the Taeping reliels in the vicinity of Shanghai in 1862 with the force under General Siaveley. Served in South Africa throughout the Zulu war of 1879 (Medal with Clasp). "

Major H.L.Ellaby served in command of No 8 Btty , 7th Bgde RA from the date of it's arrival in SA till the conclusion of the war .
90th

Cadet  Hugh  Latimer  Ellaby  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  in  the  Royal  Artillery  on  8th  April  1857  and  whilst  serving  with  no  6  battery,  12th  Brigade,  he  served  in  the  China  War  in  1860  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Taku  Forts.  When  most  of  the  British  forces  left  China  by  1862,  Ellaby  and  a  detachment  of  his  battery  stayed  on  with  a  small  force  to  Anglo  French  under  General  Staveley  to  protect  Shanghai  from  Taeping  rebels.  The  China  List  for  that  Command  noting  him  as  ‘Artillery  Instructor  to  the  Chinese’.  With  ever  increasing  threat  of  the  rebels  attacking  Shanghai,  in  April  1862,  Staveley  took  to  the  offensive  with  his  mixed  force  of  approximately  2200  men.  This  force  being  made  up  of  a  mixture  of  2  half  battalions  of  Indian  troops,  a  company  of  the  99th  Foot,  80  RA  (1100),  a  Naval  Brigade  of  400  men,  a  French  Naval  Brigade  of  the  same  number  and  300  Chinese  troops.  Over  the  coming  months  the  force  saw  a  good  deal  of  action  including  the  storming  and  capture  of  the  walled  cities  of  Kading,  Tsingpoo,  and  Tsolin,  and  the  operations  at  Wongkadza,  Tserpoo,  and  Najow.  By  Autumn  rebels  had  been  cleared  from  around  Shanghai  and  Staveley’s  offensive  operations  ceased.  Lieutenant  Ellaby  is  noted  as  being  based  at  Canton  by  January  1863,  along  with  14  men  of  theRoyal  Artillery  and  2  Officers  and  28  men  of  the  99th  Foot.  Ellaby  is  further  noted  as  returning  home  from  China  in  February  1865.  Of  particular  note,  was  Staveley’s  Engineer  Officer;  Captain  Charles  Gordon,  later  known  as  Chinese  Gordon  (of  Khartoum  fame),  who  was  one  of  the  other  Officers  who  took  part  in  the  1862  offensive.  Ellaby  and  Gordon  were  clearly  well  acquainted  as  an  1882  letter  from  Gordon  to  Ellaby  exists,  where  Gordon  is  sending  the  latter  a  tortoise!  Ellaby’s  service  in  China  is  most  interesting  and  really  needs  more  research.  On  8th  August  1877,  Ellaby  was  promoted  Captain  and  on  3rd  April  1877  to  Major.  In  early  1879,  Major  Ellaby,  in  command  of  No  8  Battery,  7th  Brigade  Royal  Artillery,  was  sent  to  South  Africa  to  take  part  in  the  Zulu  War.  By  the  beginning  of  April  1879,  the  battery  was  serving  in  Zululand  itself,  a  section  of  two  7  pdr  guns  and  50  men  of  the  battery  under  Ellaby,  forming  a  part  of  Crealock’s  First  Division.  Crealock’s  Division  was  tasked  in  supporting  Chelmsford’s  Second  Division  in  its  advance  on  Ulundi.  The  Division  was  to  take  the  coastal  route,  threatening  the  South  Eastern  part  of  the  Zulu  Kingdom  and  hoping  to  draw  forces  away  from  the  main  Zulu  Army.  The  route  was  over  very  difficult  terrain  and  compounded  by  transport  issues,  the  Division  made  slow  going.  It  would  be  Chelmsford’s  force  that  reached  Ulundi,  defeating  the  Zulu  Army  and  taking  the  glory,  whilst  Crealock’s  Division  suffered  the  hardships  of  their  lot.  By  August  1879,  Ellaby  and  his  battery  were  withdrawn  from  Zululand.  On  30th  April  1884,  Ellaby  was  promoted  Lt  Colonel  and  a  month  later  Colonel,  retiring  with  that  rank.  His  Army  List  entry  is  as  follows:  '  Major  Ellaby  served  with  the  expedition  to  China  in  1860,  and  was  present  at  the  capture  of  the  Taku  Forts  (Medal  with  Clasp).  Also  served  in  the  operations  against  the  Taeping  rebels  in  the  vicinity  of  Shanghai  in  1862;  including  the  storm  and  capture  of  the  walled  cities  of  Kading,  Tsingpoo,  and  Tsolin,  and  the  minor  operations  of  Wongkadza,  Tserpoo,  and  Najow.  with  the  force  under  General  Staveley.  Served  in  South  Africa  throughout  the  Zulu  war  of  1879  (Medal  with  Clasp).
Source: jagermedals.com