Sources |
- [S453] 1871 England Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;), Class: RG10; Piece: 4; Folio: 5; Page: 1; GSU roll: 824711.
- [S319] Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;).
- [S714] UK, Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2018;), University of London; London, England; India List Civil and Military India; Reference Number: b2168330~S10 1877.
- [S459] India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
- [S491] India, Select Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
- [S19] London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906/Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1906; Reference Number: p87/ste/002.
- [S3209] Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Class Number: WO 25; Class Title: Including campaigns, marriages, births of children, names and address of next of kin, etc. (with Index); Piece Number: 3913; Piece Title: Including campaigns, marriages, births.
- [S468] England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
- [S1682] UK, Civil Engineer Lists, 1818-1930, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2013;).
- [S457] India, Select Marriages, 1792-1948, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
- [S2171] England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1918, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files, J 77; Reference Number: J 77/136/2899.
- [S6890] Institutions of Civil Engineers Minutes of Proceedungs, Institutions of Civil Engineers, Volume 55 Issue 1879, 1879 PART 1.
MAJOR GEORGE SWETENHAM was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and entered the corps of Royal Engineers on the 7th of April, 1856.
After serving in the mutiny campaign of 1858, on the amalgamation of the three Indian corps of Engineers with that of the Royal army, he joined the Public Works Department, as second grade Assistant Engineer, in January 1859, he being the first officer of the Royal corps who joined the Public Works Department of India.
In April 1865 he attained to t.he rank of Executive Engineer, third grade, and in April 1866 was promoted to the second grade. Up to this date he had been employed chiefly on military buildings at Fyzabad, in Oudh. He was then transferred to Hyderabad (Dekkan), and was in March 1868 raised to first grade Executive Engineer. During these ten years he on several occasions officiated as Superintending Engineer and Secretary to the Resident of Hyderabad in the Public Works Department.
As an Executive Engineer during this period he was wholly employed in the construction of military buildings in the large cantonments of Secunderabad and Trimulgherry, and was the first to introduce granite, the material now generally used for these buildings. He rendered efficient service to the Government of India, which was on several occasions officially acknowledged.
As a military officer Major Swetenham possessed excellent abilities, being energetic and taking great interest in his work. He was wounded at the capture of Lucknow, and obtained a medal for services during the Indian mutiny, with the clasp for the capture of Lucknow.
Major Swetenham was elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers on the 23rd of May, 1871. He died of cholera, on the 10th of July, 1858, at Bolarum.
https://doi.org/10.1680/imotp.1879.22407
- [S496] London Gazette, Issue 21878 Page 1590.
Gentleman Cadets to be Lieutenants. George Swetenham. Dated 7th April 1856
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21878/page/1590
- [S1325] Hart‘s Army Lists, War Services of the Officers of the Royal Engineers.
77 Major Swetenham served in the Indian mutiny campaign in 1858-59, as an Assistant Field Engineer, including the defence of the Jelahabad post under Outram, siege and capture of Lucknow (wounded), storm and capture of the Fort and entrenchments of Kussia Rampore, passage of the Gogra, and minor engagements at Buracussia, &c. (Medal with Clasp).
https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/120766941
- [S3272] History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Whitworth Porter, (Name: Longmans, Green & Co.; Location: London & New York; Date: 1889;), Arrival of 4 companies of Royal Engineers in India in Aug and Nov 1857.
Whilst these brilliant deeds were being enacted by the Engineers of the Indian establishment, strong reinforcements of Royal Engineers were pouring into the country. Most fortunately for our arms, an expedition was at the time on its way to China, to carry on the war which had broken out in that country. A portion of this force, on reaching Singapore, was diverted to India, and amongst others the 23rd Company Royal Engineers, under Captain A. J. Clarke, with Lieutenants Lennox, Malcolm, Pritchard, and Harrison. This Company landed at Calcutta on August 11th, 1857, and as we have seen took part in the relief of Lucknow. The 4th Company, under Major Nicholson, with Lieutenants Scratchley, Wynne, Swetenham, and Keith; the 11th Company, under Captain Cumberland, with Lieutenants Maquay, Walker, and Paterson, and the 21st Company under Captain Fenwick, with Lieutenants Edwards, Gossett, Webber, and Festing, all arrived in November, the two former being landed at Calcutta and the two latter at Bombay.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, then Commanding Royal Engineer at Malta, received telegraphic instructions at the same time to proceed to India, to take command of the Royal Engineers, while Sir Robert Napier held the post of Chief Engineer over the amalgamated force. ... The 4th and 23rd Companies joined the force which Sir Colin Campbell was collecting for the recapture of Lucknow, and served throughout that operation.
https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy01portgoog/page/n544/mode/1up
- [S496] London Gazette, Nominal return of casualties, Supplement pages 2504 - 2504.
NOMINAL Return of Casualties in Her Majesty's Troops under the personal command of His Excellency General Sir Colin Campbell, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, in the operations before Lucknow from the 2nd to the 21st March, 1858, inclusive.
Head-Quarters, Camp before Lucknow, March 28, 1858.
Royal Engineers
4th Company
Lieut. G. Swetenham Slight musket-ball wound in left leg
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22141/page/2505
- [S3272] History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Whitworth Porter, (Name: Longmans, Green & Co.; Location: London & New York; Date: 1889;), George Swetenham wounded at Lucknow.
https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy01portgoog/page/n547
March 9th. Sir Colin took the Martinière in the morning. 60 R.E. and 50 Punjaubs, under Swetenham and Nuthall, took the Chutur Kotee, threw up a mortar battery on the left of the Padsha Bagh. Corporal Trimble showed much courage in the Padsha Bagh, and Garret was wounded, also poor Swetenham. This morning we were engaged in throwing up a six-gun battery in front.
https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy01portgoog/page/n547
- [S5468] Two Indian Campaigns In 1857-58, Thackeray, Edward (Colonel Sir Edward Talbot Thackeray VC KCB 1836 – 1927), (Name: Royal Engineers Institute (W. & J. MacKay); Location: Chatham, [England]; Date: 1896;), Assault of La Martiniere.
On the 8th March the Martiniere was assaulted and captured with very little loss. Lieutenant A. M. Lang (now Colonel), and Lieutenant J. G. Forbes (now Colonel, late Secretary to the Government of India, Public Works Department), and myself, and Lieutenant Swetenham and Lieutenant H. J. Nuthall, were told off as Engineer officers to accompany the assaulting columns. We had each a party of sappers, and drew up in rear of the Dilkoosha. The party to which I was attached joined the 42nd Highlanders, and at the word of command the troops raced across the space between the Martiniere and the Dilkoosha.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044088728431&view=1up&seq=149
- [S1108] British Library, Fortress of Jellalabad, near Lucknow.
Fortress of Jellalabad
This lithograph is taken from plate 19 of 'General Views of Lucknow' by Sir DS Dodgson. The fortress of Jalalabad was on the southern outskirts of Lucknow and built by Safdar Jang, Nawab of Avadh (1739-1753). Now in ruins, it was the scene of intense fighting in 1858, since it was part of the British line of defences of the city. General Outram's forces successfully fought back Indian rebels there in January and February 1858. As the British began to reverse the rebels' initial successes and regain control of Lucknow, their field of activity narrowed and Jalalabad Fort was abandoned, serving no further strategic function.
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019xzz000000270u00019000.html
- [S3272] History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Whitworth Porter, (Name: Longmans, Green & Co.; Location: London & New York; Date: 1889;), Lieut. George Swetenham destroys one face of the fort at Jellalabad.
From 4th Company’s Journal by Major Nicholson
April 23rd. I rode to Lucknow with Sir Hope Grant, leaving the force at Nawabgunge. On arriving in Lucknow, I found that Lt. Swetenham was detached to Jellalabad with 7 of the 4th Co. and 100 of the Delhi Pioneers, with orders to destroy one face of it.
April 25th. Lt. Scratchley marched the detachment into Lucknow, having come in two marches from Nawabgunge.
April 26th. Lt. Swetenham rejoined with his men from Jellalabad, having completed his work; received orders to march on another expedition with Sir Hope Grant. April 28th. Sir H. Grant's column marched to Alumbagh, Lt. Wynne, with 30 men, joined it. April 29th. The column marched to Bunnee Bridge, and I rode out in the evening and joined them there.
https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy01portgoog/page/n553
- [S3272] History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Whitworth Porter, (Name: Longmans, Green & Co.; Location: London & New York; Date: 1889;), Swetenham mentioned in Gen. Outram’s despatch.
The 4th Company Royal Engineers, under Nicholson, crossed the Goomtie with Outram, and served with that force throughout the operations. Outram in his despatch says: - "Major Nicholson, RE, evinced the most indefatigable industry in the construction of the heavy batteries which fell to his department to execute, and in choosing sites, from which he was constantly exposed to a very heavy fire ...... Major Nicholson R. E. highly applauds the energy displayed by the officers of that department., viz., Lieuts. Malcolm, Wynne, Swetenham, Keith, RE, and Lieuts. Waters, Tennant, Hovenden, and Nuthall, BE"
https://archive.org/details/historycorpsroy01portgoog/page/n547
- [S496] London Gazette, SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, MAY 25, 1858. p. 2589.
No. 21.
ROLL of Officers who have served under Major-General Sir James Outram, G.C.B., commanding the 1st Infantry Division, during the operations at Lucknow, in March, 1858, and who are deemed deserving of honourable mention.
Corps or Department | Rank and Names | Remarks
Page 2590
Royal Engineers ... ...| Lieut. Malcolm | Favourably mentioned by Major Nicholson RE Commanding Engineers
Ditto ... ... | Lieut. Wynn | Behaved with very great coolness and gallantry in removing a breast work from across the Iron-bridge in the face of a heavy and continued fire
Ditto | Lieut. Swetenham | Favourably mentioned by Major Major Nicholson RE
Ditto | Lieut. Keith | Ditto
Ditto | Serjeant Paul | Assisted Lieut. Wynn in the removal of the breast work, and deserves equal praise for coolness and gallantry
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22143/page/2589
- [S496] London Gazette, Mentioned in Gen. Outram’s despatch.
Major Nicholson, R.E., highly applauds the energy displayed by the officers of that department, viz., Lieutenants Malcolm, Wynne, Swetenham and Keith, R.E., and Lieutenants Watson, Tennant, Hovenden, and Nuthall, B.E.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22143/page/2574/data.pdf
- [S496] London Gazette, Issue: 7480 Page: 1353.
Lieutenant George Swetenham to be Second Captain, vice Duff; Dated 1st October 1864
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7480/page/1353
- [S496] London Gazette, Issue: 23267 Page: 3541.
Royal Regiment of Engineers
Captain George Swetenham to be Major, vice V. C. Philpotts.
Dated 2nd August, 1873
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24003/page/3590
- [S502] List of the officers of the Bengal army, 1758-1834, part IV, V.C.P. Hodson, SWETENHAM, Edmund (1795-1863).
Major, Invalid Est. Engineers. b. Chester 1 Oct. 1795. Cadet 1815. Admitted 4 Nov. 1817. Ensign 1 Sept. 1818. Lieut. 1 Mar. 1821. Capt. 28 Sept. 1827. Major 20 May 1839. Invalided 30 Sept. 1840. d. Dehra Dun 6 Mar. 1863. bapt. St. Oswald's, Chester, 12 Jan 1796. 6th son of Roger Comberbach (who assumed by RL 6 July 1790 the surname and arms of Swetenham, on succeeding to the estate of his great-uncle Edmund Swetenham, of Somerford Booths, co. Chester) and Anne his wife, dau. of William Archer, of co. Warwick. Brother of James Swetenham and of the wives of James Parsons and Adoniah Smith, qqv. m. Mussoorie 17 May 1843, Rose Sadur, an Indian lady. (She died Mussoorie 13 Oct. 1878, aged 63.) Addiscombe Cadet 18 Nov. 1812 till 13 Nov. 1815, Services: Siege and capture of Bhurtpore; Lieut. Engrs. (India medal). Supt. of Delhi canals till 11 Aug. 1826; Garr. Engr. at Almora, and Executive Ofr. in Kumaon 27 Feb. 1826; Executive Engr 10th (Agra) Div., P. W.D., 8 Aug. 1828; do. Meerut Div. 13 June 1833 to 24 Dec. 1838; comdd. S. & M. at Delhi 25 Oct. 1838 till 6 Mar. 1839; Executive Engr. Meerut 6 Mar. 1839. Fur. p. a. 13 Jan. 1855 to 28 Nov. 1856. Refs. : Burke's Landed Gentry, 12th edn., p. 1821, s.n. Swetenham, of Somerford Booths, co. Chester. Ormerod's Cheshire, iii. 561. M.I. Dehra Dun and Christ Church, Mussoorie.
https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3492/page/n223/mode/2up
|