Colonel Warde
(1827-1877)
12 November 1862

Volume 9, page 303, sitting number 12,209.

Identified in the Silvy daybooks as 'Colonel Warde,' this is probably Lieutenant-Colonel George Warde, late of the 51st Light Infantry. His father was Vice-Admiral Charles Warde of Squerreyes Court near Westerham in Kent.

On 28 August 1862 he married Lady Harriet North, eldest daughter of Francis North, 6th Earl of Guildford. [Her portrait by Silvy appears on page 49 of this section.] Their marriage produced no children.

Lieutenant-Colonel Warde died on 23 January 1877, aged 50, leaving an estate valued at £12,000. 

According to a detailed report of his death and an extensive obituary in the Sussex Agricultural Express (30 January 1877), he was 'the eldest son of the late Admiral Charles Warde, K.H., and was born at Lower Sketty, Glamorganshire, on the 1st Jan., 1827. [...] He was educated at Eton, and entered the army at an early age. He first joined the 85th Regiment, and exchanged from that into the 51st, in order to go out with the Turkish contingent, as aide de camp to General Nevill (who, it will probably be remembered, was afterwards killed at Lucknow during the Indian mutiny). Colonel Warde remained in the Crimea during the war, and gained the Crimean medal and the Medjidie. He afterwards went to India, and on his return to England became colonel of the City of London Rifle Brigade in April, 1862, from which command he retired about nine months ago, in consequence of ill-health. [...] In Jan., 1869, he succeeded his father as head of the family, and took up residence at The Court. The deceased gentleman was of commanding presence and handsome mien; he was courteous to everybody, a good sportsman, fond of hunting, and a first-class shot. Although not acquainted with the details of practical agriculture, he took considerable interest in that important science, and being a good speaker was always sought after to preside at the gatherings of the farmers in his neighbourhood. In charitable distributions, in which he was warmly seconded by his noble lady, he was unostentatious but generous, and many a home during inclement seasons has been made comfortable by the kind gifts from Squerries [sic]. Therefore it is not surprising that the colonel was beloved by everyone, and that his death is equally deplored. There being no issue, and the second son of the late Admiral Warde (John Gregory) being deceased - he was killed in the Massacre at Cawnpore at the outbreak of the mutiny on June 27, 1857 - the successor to the family estates is Col. Charles Arthur Madan Warde, late of the Royal Artillery, the third son of the admiral, and the only surviving brother of the gentleman recently deceased.'

[From an album probably compiled by either George Charles Pratt (1799-1866), 2nd Marquess Camden or by his son, John Charles Pratt (1840-1872), from 1866 the 3rd Marquess Camden.]