Lieutenant-General Sir Peter Edmonstone Craigie KCB
1859-1862
Born in 1794, he was commissioned in the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment
of Foot (Light Infantry) and served with their 2nd Battalion in
Holland in 1813-14 including the attacks on the fortified village
of Merxem, where he led the advance party of Major General Sir Herbert
Taylor’s Brigade; and bombardment of Antwerp; Ensign by purchase
18th June 1813; Lieutenant by purchase 29th September 1814; Captain
by purchase 24th October 1821; Major by purchase 10th August 1826;
Lieutenant Colonel 21st November 1834 and transfer to the 55th Foot
on taking command of the Regiment.
He led it during the First China War. He was the senior field officer serving with the force and acted as second-in-command to Lord Gough. He commanded a Brigade or Column of attack at the assault and capture of the fortified cities of Amoy, Chusan (2nd capture) - on which occasion it happened that the whole of the engagement devolved upon his Brigade – and Chinhae. Subsequently when the HQ of the force proceeded to the Yeang-tze Keang, he was appointed by Lord Gough to the responsible command of the Island of Chusan, which he held for eight months until the return of the Force after the peace treaty had been signed at Nankin (China Medal). For his services and conduct, he was promoted Colonel (23rd November 1842), made an ADC to Queen Victoria and a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).
From 1855 to 1860 he commanded the Centre Division of the Madras Army, being promoted Major-General 20th June 1854 and Lieutenant-General 19th June 1860. He was made Colonel of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1859 and then Colonel of the 55th Foot from June 1862 up to his death in December 1873.
« Previous 
Back to list Next »
