LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

Captain Alexander LEARMONTH — 17th Lancers

Frequently named "Learmouth".

Birth & early life

Born on the 26th of August 1829, the son of John Learmonth, of Dean, Edinburgh, and Muirieston House, Mid Calder, J.P. D.L. Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and his wife, Margaret, daughter of James Cleghorn, M.D. of Kilcarty, Staff Physician of Dublin.

1841 Census

6, Moray Place, Edinburgh.

Alexr Learmonth, aged 11.

1851 Census

6, Moray Place, Edinburgh.

John Leamouth [sic], 62.

Agnes, 28.

Alexander, 22, 17th Lancers.

Educated at Edinburgh Military Academy, and at [Christ Church?], Oxford University [B.A.].

Service

Cornet in the 17th Lancers: 21st of August 1849.

Lieutenant, 17th Lancers: 23rd of August 1850.

Left on board, "sick", on the 17th of September 1854.

Captain, 17th Lancers: 23rd of October 1854.

[PB: When did he rejoin the regiment? Why did he not Charge on the 25th?]

On "sick leave" from the 1st of April 1855 to the 15th of June and sent to England aboard the S.T. "City of London" on the 4th of July.

The muster rolls for the period July-September 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" from September.

Major, 17th Lancers: 30th of September 1858.

Lieutenant-Colonel, 17th Lancers: 1st of February 1859.

Marriage

On the 2nd of April 1859, he married Charlotte Salter Lyons, daughter of Major-General Humphrey Lyons,H.E.I.C.S. [Honourable East India Company Service] at Christ's Church, Byulla, Bombay, India. The ceremony was conducted by the Revd. Leigh-Lye. He was shown as being "of full age" [he was 29], and she as 20. A son, John Henry, later became a Captain in the 12th Lancers.

Retired, by the sale of his commission, on the 21st of February 1860.

Hart's Army List, 1859, p.154.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Campaign service

Captain Learmonth served in the Eastern campaign of 1854-55 (Medal and Clasp).

[Hart's Army List, 1856, p.15; 1859, p.154.]

Lieutenant-Colonel Learmonth served with the 17th Lancers during the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasp, Turkish medal and the 5th Class Order of the Medjidie.) Also in the Indian campaign of 1857-59, where he commanded a squadron. (Medal.)

[PB: EJB's source?]

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, Turkish Medal, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, and the Mutiny medal without clasp.

Commemorations

Life after service

Became Conservative M.P. for Colchester, 1870-80, and also a J.P. for Midlothian.

Birth registered

Adelaide Mary Learmouth [daughter], September Quarter 1861, Chelsea.

1871 Census

93, Eaton Place, St George's Hanover Square, Westminster.

Alexander Learmouth [sic?], aged 30, Member of Parliament, retired Col. Army, born Edinburgh.

Charlotte Learmouth, 30 Bombay.

John Henry Learmouth, 10.

Adelaide Mary Learmouth, 9.

Algernon Alexander Learmouth, 8.

Mary Lilian Learmouth, 7.

Florence Mina Learmouth, 6.

Frederick Charles Learmouth, 4.

Constance Flora Learmouth, 3.

All children born St George's Hanover Square, London, except Florence, born Scotland.

Thirteen staff were also shown.

1881 Census

"Woodcroft", St. Boxwell, Roxborough.

The 1881 Census Returns show him as Late Colonel, 17th Lancers, aged 51, born in Edinburgh.

Two Household Servants are shown: a Housekeeper and Footman.

Death & burial

Died, aged 57, at 44 Park Lane, London, on the 10th of March 1887.

Death registered

Alexander Learmouth [sic], 57, St George's Hanover Square, March Quarter 1887.

He was buried in a private grave, No. 1358245, Section A. in Brompton Cemetery, Fulham, from St. George's, Hanover Square.

A small gravestone was erected bearing the inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Colonel Alexander Learmonth of Dean, Edinburgh. 17th Lancers, March 10th 1887."

Further information

Marriage registered

Adelaide Mary Learmouth [daughter] married John Kennedy, March Quarter, 1890, St.Geo H. Sq.

1891 Census

108 Sandygate Road, Folkestone.

Charlotte Learmonth, widow, aged 54, Lady, born Hampshire.

Constance Learmonth, 22, London.

One Servant is also shown.

__________

Elm Cot, Eton, Taplow, Bucks.

John Kennedy, aged 32, living on his own means, born Scotland.

Adelaide M Kennedy, 29, born London.

One Servant is also shown.

__________

9, Sloane Gate Mansions, Chelsea S.W.

Adelaide Mary Kennedy, aged 48, widow, Independent means, born Belgravia.

One Servant is also shown.

__________

Barnby Manor, Barnby in the Willows, Newark, Notts.

Algernon A Learmonth [son], aged 48, single, visitor, late Captain Militia, born London.

Marriage registered

Constance Flora Leamouth [sic] [daughter] to Otto Henry Rhodes, June Quarter 1896, Chelsea.

1901 Census

Ben Rose, Melville Road, Thames Ditton.

Otto Henry Rhodes, aged 39, Stock Exchange Clerk.

Constance F Rhodes, 32, born Eaton Place.

A son, 3.

One Servant was also shown.

1911 Census

16, Ruskin Avenue, Kew Gardens.

Constance Rhodes, 39, married, born London.

Deaths registered

Constance F Rhodes [youngest child], aged 82, December Quarter 1951, Surrey N.

Mary L. Learmouth [sic?] [daughter], aged 86, September Quarter 1952, Ealing.

Adelaide M Kennedy [daughter], aged 95, December Quarter 1957, Worthing.

References & acknowledgements

Additional Census information for 1841-1911, and details of numerous registrations of births, deaths and marriage kindly provided by Chris Poole.