| Lt.-Col. George Constable Gregory |
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A Goorkha Officer
George Constable Gregory was born on 14 June
1840 and baptized at Trinity Church, Marylebone,
London. on the 20th of July. He was the son John
and Maria Antoinetta Gregory of 7 Harley Place.
His father was a banker and Army Agent.
Gregory was nominated as a cadet for the Bengal
Infantry in 1856, passing the examination on 31
December 1856. He was nominated by Ross
Donnelly Mangles, MP on the recommendation of
Mrs. H.E. Wilberforce Bird of 22 Sussex Square,
Hyde Park. He received his commission on 20
January 1857, and proceeded to India to join his
regiment.
1840 and baptized at Trinity Church, Marylebone,
London. on the 20th of July. He was the son John
and Maria Antoinetta Gregory of 7 Harley Place.
His father was a banker and Army Agent.
Gregory was nominated as a cadet for the Bengal
Infantry in 1856, passing the examination on 31
December 1856. He was nominated by Ross
Donnelly Mangles, MP on the recommendation of
Mrs. H.E. Wilberforce Bird of 22 Sussex Square,
Hyde Park. He received his commission on 20
January 1857, and proceeded to India to join his
regiment.
At the start of the Indian Mutiny, then Lieutenant Gregory was serving with the 58th Bengal Native Infantry. The 58th N.I. was
disarmed at Rawal Pindi on 7 July 1857 by four companies of H.M. 24th Regiment. The regiment was subsequently disbanded.
(Gimlette, A Postscript to the Records of the Indian Mutiny)
Lieutenant Gregory served with the Meerut Volunteer Horse (the famed Khakee Ressalah) during August, September and October
of 1857, in several minor affairs in the Meerut District. He was present with the 1st Baloochees in Brigadier Wetherell’s Force at
the assault and capture of Rampore-Kussia in Oude, in Lord Clyde’s Field Force in the Oude Campaign in 1858-59, including the
occupation of Forts Amethee and Shunkerpore, affairs of Buxar Ghat, Forts Buhidia and Mujidia, and the affair on the banks of
the River Raptee in December of 1858. (War Service of Officers of the Bengal Army 1863). Medal without clasp as Lieutenant,
58th Regt N.I.
Lieutenant Gregory served with the 3rd Goorkha Regiment in the Bhootan campaign of 1864. “Lieutenant Gregory with 150 men of
the 3rd Gurkhas distinguished himself by charging and capturing an enemy stockade which had been erected outside Buxa and at
Chumarchi.” He was one of only a few officers of the 3rd Goorkha Regiment wounded in the Bhootan campaign. (B.A.H. Parritt, Red
with Two Blue Stripes) Medal with clasp as Lieutenant, 3rd Goorkha Regt.
Major Gregory served throughout the Second Afghan War with the 3rd Goorkha Regiment. Present at the battle of Ahmad Khel on
19 April 1880 when the Regiment rendered signal service by forming up into rallying squares at the critical moment when the Ghazi
rush swept back the Cavalry on the skirmishers. Also present at the bombardment of the Arzu villages. (Shadbolt, The Afghan
Campaign of 1878-1880) Medal and clasp as Major, 3rd Goorkha Regt.
Interestingly, during the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) visit to India in 1876, the 3rd Goorkhas and then Captain Gregory
played an important part in his visit. As stated in the Regimental History of the Third Gurkhas: “the tiger shooting for the Prince
of Wales took place in the Kumaon Terai under the direction of the Commissioner of Kumaon and was very successful. The escort
for H.R.H. was provided by the 3rd Gurkhas. Originally, headquarters and a wing were detailed; but, as this was found to be
unnecessarily large, it was soon reduced to seventy rifles and the band, under the command of Capt. G.C. Gregory.” (Id at pg 38.)
Lt.-Col. Gregory retired on 9 March 1882. He is shown in the 1891 census as a visitor at the home of George H. Thompson, Major-
General (Rtd.), a retired Bengal Cavalry officer, in Bagshot, Surrey and is listed as fifty years old and a retired Lt.-Col. living on
his own means. In the 1901 census, Lt.-Col. Gregory was living alone at 40-43 Great Malborough St. in London.
Seen below are pictures of two of his residences in London:
7 Harley Place (parent's home) 40-43 Great Malborough St.
disarmed at Rawal Pindi on 7 July 1857 by four companies of H.M. 24th Regiment. The regiment was subsequently disbanded.
(Gimlette, A Postscript to the Records of the Indian Mutiny)
Lieutenant Gregory served with the Meerut Volunteer Horse (the famed Khakee Ressalah) during August, September and October
of 1857, in several minor affairs in the Meerut District. He was present with the 1st Baloochees in Brigadier Wetherell’s Force at
the assault and capture of Rampore-Kussia in Oude, in Lord Clyde’s Field Force in the Oude Campaign in 1858-59, including the
occupation of Forts Amethee and Shunkerpore, affairs of Buxar Ghat, Forts Buhidia and Mujidia, and the affair on the banks of
the River Raptee in December of 1858. (War Service of Officers of the Bengal Army 1863). Medal without clasp as Lieutenant,
58th Regt N.I.
Lieutenant Gregory served with the 3rd Goorkha Regiment in the Bhootan campaign of 1864. “Lieutenant Gregory with 150 men of
the 3rd Gurkhas distinguished himself by charging and capturing an enemy stockade which had been erected outside Buxa and at
Chumarchi.” He was one of only a few officers of the 3rd Goorkha Regiment wounded in the Bhootan campaign. (B.A.H. Parritt, Red
with Two Blue Stripes) Medal with clasp as Lieutenant, 3rd Goorkha Regt.
Major Gregory served throughout the Second Afghan War with the 3rd Goorkha Regiment. Present at the battle of Ahmad Khel on
19 April 1880 when the Regiment rendered signal service by forming up into rallying squares at the critical moment when the Ghazi
rush swept back the Cavalry on the skirmishers. Also present at the bombardment of the Arzu villages. (Shadbolt, The Afghan
Campaign of 1878-1880) Medal and clasp as Major, 3rd Goorkha Regt.
Interestingly, during the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) visit to India in 1876, the 3rd Goorkhas and then Captain Gregory
played an important part in his visit. As stated in the Regimental History of the Third Gurkhas: “the tiger shooting for the Prince
of Wales took place in the Kumaon Terai under the direction of the Commissioner of Kumaon and was very successful. The escort
for H.R.H. was provided by the 3rd Gurkhas. Originally, headquarters and a wing were detailed; but, as this was found to be
unnecessarily large, it was soon reduced to seventy rifles and the band, under the command of Capt. G.C. Gregory.” (Id at pg 38.)
Lt.-Col. Gregory retired on 9 March 1882. He is shown in the 1891 census as a visitor at the home of George H. Thompson, Major-
General (Rtd.), a retired Bengal Cavalry officer, in Bagshot, Surrey and is listed as fifty years old and a retired Lt.-Col. living on
his own means. In the 1901 census, Lt.-Col. Gregory was living alone at 40-43 Great Malborough St. in London.
Seen below are pictures of two of his residences in London:
7 Harley Place (parent's home) 40-43 Great Malborough St.
