William Hampton Parlby

William Parlby was born in India in what was known as the Bengal Presidency in 1801;[1] his parents were Colonel James Templer Parlby, an engineer in the East India Company (but originally from Plymouth) and Lousia Munt (she was originally from London).[2] He was one of five siblings, four of which survived childhood. His grandfather was Thomas Parlby a master mason and architect from Plymouth.[3]

William's mother Louisa was a collector of locally commissioned pictures of scenes of colonial and local life around their residence in India, i.e. the cantonment at Maidapur (near the administrative centre of Berhampore, West Bengal).[4]

William Parlby died a bachelor in Hubberston, near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire on 26 October 1881, none of his relatives were named in the will and probate record.[5]

William Parlby was commissioned as a cornet in the 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons on 3 October 1816; he was promoted to lieutenant on 17 May 1824 and then to captain on 28 September 1826.[6] He is recorded as being a brevet major in 1841[7] and in 1845.[8] In 1843 he commanded a detachment of his regiment in Wales during the Rebecca Riots. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 4th Light Dragoons on 30 January 1846 (by purchase),[9] although he only commanded the regiment for seven months.[10]

In terms of his overseas and campaign service, William Parlby served with his regiment in India and then as a colonel he commanded other regiments in India e.g. the 10th (The Prince of Wale's Own) Royal Regiment of Light Dragoons (Hussars) based in Kirkee, India.[11] In 1854 after the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade he was ordered to bring his regiment (then the 10th Hussars) from India to the Crimea (via Egypt),[12] the 680 strong regiment arrived on 15 April 1855 to join Allied troops laying siege to the city of Sebastopol.[13] During the latter stages of the Crimea War he commanded the British Cavalry Division[14] from 17 April to 30 June 1855 and then the Cavalry Division's Hussar Brigade from 1 July to 2 September 1855.[15][16][17] He was also present with Turkish forces at the Battle of the Chernaya. He was thoroughly involved in cavalry operations around Sevastopol and Lord Raglan complimented him in despatches.[18] He was awarded the Crimea Medal with Clasp for Sebastopol, the Sardinian and Turkish Crimea Medals and 4th Class Order of the Medjidie.[19]

On home service as a major general he commanded the Cavalry Brigade of the Dublin Division in Ireland, based at Curragh Camp (1860-1861).[20][21]

He was promoted to major general in 1860,[22] then lieutenant general on 21 March 1869 and then promoted to general on 22 May 1876.[23]

General Parlby would become the Regimental Colonel of the 21st Regiment of Hussars on 24 October 1865;[24] until on 1 July 1880 he was appointed as Colonel of his old regiment (the 4th (Queens Own) Hussars)[25] a post he was still holding in 1881 when he died (albeit an honorary post).