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 Gentlemans Magazine |
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 Death Announcements 1845-1854
| Transcribed by | Steve van Dulken |
| | Surname | Croly | | | First names | George Alfred | | | Rank / occupation | Lieutenant |  | Unit | 26th Light Infantry | | | Death date | Dec 1845 | | | Place of death | Ferozeshah  | | | Source | Gentleman's Magazine | | | Date | Apr 1846 | | | Page number | 431 | | | Detail | Officers slain in India. Lieut. George Alfred Croly, 26th light infantry. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Croly, Rector of St Stephen's Walbrook, London. He landed in India in Oct. 1841, and finding the regiment to which he was appointed was not likely to be soon employed in active service, he exchanged into the 26th, then under orders to march to Affghanistan. In that memorable campaign, which retrieved the honour of our arms, Ensign Croly carried the colours of the 26th regiment of Native Infantry; was present in all its engagements; and at the storming of the fortified mountain village of Istaliff, in Kohistan, disarmed one of the enemy who had attacked him in the melée, and sent his dagger and an Afghan sword to England. the 26th regiment, on its return from Cabul, was made a light infantry corps, as a mark of distinction for its conduct and intrepidity, and its officers received the medals so nobly won by the army engaged in Affghanistan. Yet, in all the fatigues and difficulties of this arduous campaign, Ensign Croly employed both his pen and pencil on the scenes round him, making a detailed and able journal, sketching the aspects of the country, and giving views of the principal actions with a force and fidelity worthy of a practised artist. His drawings were regarded in India as such faithful and vigorous performances that he was strongly urged to their publication. But by the time of their arrival in England the public interest in the war had passed away, and the design was abandoned. All those sketches had been made on the spot, and some of them even while the action was going on in other parts of the field. On the cessation of active service, this young officer, then lieutenant, instead of giving himself up to the relaxations of a time of peace, commenced the study of Persian and Hindustani, and with such success as to pass the examination in both languages for the situation of interpreter. In the hot months of last summer he made an excursion to the Himmalaya, and occupied his time in made a succession of drawings of the mountain scenery, the habits of the natives, and the incidents of his travel. His letters were always affectionate and intelligent, often eloquent and picturesque. To his intellectual gifts nature had added an exterior worthy of them -- a tall and striking figure, and a remarkably fine and expressive countenance. |
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