Lieutenant Colonel Hon. Charles Lindsay...Court Martialled

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:20 am

I have been trying to find information on the above. He is listed in Harts Army List 1888 as 'retired by sale or commutation' This is the only record of him that I can find. I am unable to find out who his Father was or details of his Court Martial. All I know was that his Father was a Lord. I was told that after being drummed out of his regiment he joined the East India Company as a regular soldier and served there for about 20 years. He then moved to New Zealand as a remittance man. It is my understanding that he was previously married and had issue. My thoughts are about Henry Gore Lindsay and that Walter Charles Lindsay may have been his Brother. Anyone who has any information that may be helpful, I would be grateful. It is so hard from this side of the world, especially when you have only the vaguest of information to work from. Thank you Mary

Post by **paddyscar** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:01 am

Hi Mary and a warm welcome too!

I've no experience on courts martial, but the subject has been discussed here before, which may give you some insights. http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ts+martial

Also, you may wish to have a look at our collection of links to sites dealing with all things military, including references to the British and the Indian services. http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ts+martial

There may be someone along soon to give you more specifics than I can offer.

Looking forward to seeing you on the board with further questions as they arise

Frances

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:14 am

Hello Paddyscar, Thank you for your warm welcome! I will definitely follow those links you have sent me...it is much appreciated as I am feeling pretty useless. We,(my older Brother and Myself) thought it would be a piece of cake, however it hasn't been proven so. I am waiting on details from my Aunt who was his only Daughter by his second alliance. She is however 94 and her mind is as sharp as a tack, but I live in another part of the Country and don't want to press her too hard. She did tell me that she has a picture of him etc. Thanks once again. Mary

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:10 am

Hello Mary and welcome to TS,

There’s a Colonel Hon. Charles Hugh Lindsay born 11 November 1816, died 25 March 1889. Information about him appears in the London Times and London Gazette about a dozen times each between 1830s and 1880s. He’s the son of James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford according to this page (towards the bottom)
http://www.thepeerage.com/p1842.htm

Lt.-Col. Henry Gore Lindsay born 26 August 1830, died 15 December 1914 was the son of George Hayward Lindsay according to this page. The only other son shown is William. Henry’s 5th son was Colonel Walter Charles Lindsay born 11 March 1866, died 4 June 1929.
http://www.thepeerage.com/p2047.htm

I’m a bit confused as to whether the Court Martialled gentleman you’re referring to is Charles Lindsay or Walter Charles Lindsay. Would you be able to clarify this for me please and tell me when and where he died, his then age if known and when he moved to New Zealand.

I’m having a bit of trouble reconciling dates because it seems that the East India Company was wound up in 1858 after the Indian Mutiny.

All the best,
Alan

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:37 am

Thank you for contacting me. I know it is confusing!! The Gentleman I am searching for is Charles Walter Lindsay who in Harts 1888 Army List is referred to as: Lieutenant Colonel Hon. Charles Lindsay (retired due to sale or commutation) which I am guessing is a 'gentleman's' way of saying drummed out of the army. He lived in NZ under the name of Charles Walter Lindsay which I am picking is his real name due to the above. The story my Father (who was his Son) was that after he was 'retired' he got on his horse and joined the Indian Company(I may have the wrong name for it in those days) and served in India for about 20 years as an ordinary soldier. The story goes that he had to keep getting himself 'busted' because a certain rank had to be approved in Britain and he would have been found out when that happened. After India he came here to NZ (about 1907) where he lived until he died in the 1930's in Auckland. Unfortunately my Mother went a bit gaga when she got older and destroyed my best clue which was a photo of the headstone.
The Cemetery where he is buried is huge. There are many acres of it and my Father told me he used to know where it was but the tree he used to find it by has been cut down.
Sorry about the length of this but that is what we have been told. As a Remittance Man he should be on a list somewhere as my Father told me that as soon as he died the money stopped coming.

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:44 am

I have checked out Burkes Peerage etc. Since he was disowned after the Court Martial I am guessing he was deleted from the family's records. I wish I could give you more information. We wanted to do this years ago but my Father vetoed it because he was ashamed of it. Bad Eggs are usually the most interesting and since Father has now passed away we decided we would give it a shot.

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:51 am

Me again Currie. Going from the dates I have he would have been born 1850s or 60s, with my best guess being 1858. He was also married and had issue. My Brother is chasing up a Lady named Lindsay who is on Passenger lists returning to Britain. My Grandmother was his Common Law wife. I understand he met her here in NZ. I remember her sister from when I was young.

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:50 am

Hi Alan, I apologise for my rudeness calling you Currie! I have just found another reference to Charles Lindsay from The Illustrated London News No.2257-volLXXXI Saturday August 5 1882 p.138

It is in relation to Queen Victoria's Court. Her Majesty & Princess Beatrice and HRH going to Osbourne Pier embarking on board the Alberta and going to London with Colonel the Hon Charles Lindsay attending them to Portsmouth. This ties in with my being told that he was in the Household Calvary.
Hope it helps
Regards
Mary

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:21 am

Back again Mary,

I had some things to do.

Thanks for that info and you can call me Alan or Currie or anything you like.

We might take this slow and steady and see what turns up. With a bit of luck we’ll find something. I’ll have a bit of a scratch around.

Alan

marylindsay · Post by **marylindsay** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:25 am

I have been going at a snails pace for years a few more will not matter. I see you are in Aussie. My older Brother (who now considers himself an Aussie) and is meant to be doing this with me lives in Brisbane. Where are you?
Regards
Mary