Born c.1820.
Qualified at Edinburgh University in April of 1835, and at London on the 2nd of December 1840.
Veterinary Surgeon in the 8th Hussars: 24th of April 1843.
PB: CHECK — did he go Overland to India 1857? If so, ADD.Veterinary Surgeon (1st Class), 8th Hussars [as 8th Lght Dragoons]: 1st of July 1859.
On to half-pay. 8th of December 1869.
Lived at some time at Auchlenbrook House, Breechin, Forfar.
1881 Census
No. 4, Abbotsford Crescent, Edinburgh
The 1881 Census shows a man of this name, aged 58, living at the home of his sister Margaret. He was described as Retired (Army List) and Armory [sic] Dept, born in Edinburgh.
Extract from The Scotsman, 21st of September 1887:
"Death. — On the 19th inst. at Monkton Lodge, St. Alban's Road, St. Andrew's, Edinburgh, Edward Simpson Grey, late of the 8th Hussars. Friends, please accept this (the only intimation)."
Died, according to his death certificate, from "Valvular (Chronic) disease of the heart and Aphasia, some years", aged 68 years. He was described as a "single" man.
His father was Alexander Grey, a Veterinary Surgeon and his mother, Margaret, nee Simpson. A nephew, John E. Grey, M.R.C.V.S., was present at, and the informant of, his death.
Veterinary Surgeon Grey served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55 with the 8th Hussars, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Tchernya, affairs of the Bulganak and MacKenzie's Farm, and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal with four Clasps and the Turkish Medal)
Served in Rajapootana and Central India in 1858-59, including the capture of Kotah, re-occupation of Chundaree, battle of Kotah ke Serai, capture of Gwalior, siege and capture of Powree, battle of Sindwahoe and the actions of Koondyre, Boordah and Koorwye. (Medal and Clasp.)
He is shown on a nominal list of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as Doing Duty there.
Accompanied Colonel De Salis on the overland route to India in 1857.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal and the Mutiny Medal with clasp for Central India.
Seven small notebooks, written almost entirely in pencil, were presented to the National Library of Scotland in 1979 without any other documentation.
The first six covering the period from the 8th of October 1857, when he embarked for India, through to the 12th of January 1860, and the seventh from the 21 November to the 27th of April 1864, when he returned to England,
Although the books are numbered consecutively (perhaps in another hand) from 1 to 7, it seems clear that if the diary was kept continuously several more notebooks covering the period from the 13th of January 1860 to the 20th of November 1863, must be missing.
Although none of the notebooks are signed, it seems clear that the writer was Edward Simpson Grey.
[PB: The library online manuscript guide merely reports: "Grey (Edward Simpson), Veterinary Surgeon, 8th Dragoons, MSS.15394-15400"]
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