Henry Kilgour
(1847-1915)
22 March 1866
Volume 13, page 92, sitting number 16,906.
Identified in the Silvy daybooks only as 'Henry Kilgour,' this is possibly the Henry Kilgour who on 13 February 1866 joined the 5th (Royal Northumberland) Fusileers by purchase as a 'Gentleman Cadet' direct from the Royal Military College.
Born in Marylebone on 27 January 1847, he was the son of George Alexander Kilgour, a Solicitor of Hamilton Place. He was baptised at St George's Bloomsbury on 18 March 1847.
The 1851 census shows the family living in Warwick with their father, George Kilgour, a 'Solicitor (not practising),' and their mother Eliza. All the children were born in different parts of London. Ten years later a widowed Eliza was living with her children in the parish of St Andrew's in the centre of Gurnsey.
Henry Kilgour rose to rank of Colonel in the service of the 5th Fusileers. He retired in 1904 but offered his services again when war broke out in 1914.
In 1898 he married Mary Thurlow, widow of Reginald Thurlow of Mount Esk, Guildford.
Colonel 'Harry' Kilgour died on 24 November 1915 of dysentry in a Cairo hospital while on active service in Egypt.
According to an obituary that appeared in the Western Times (3 December 1915): 'He was born in January, 1847, and received his first appointment in February, 1866. He became colonel in 1900, and retired four years later. He served in the Afghan War, 1878-9, with the 1st and 2nd Baxar Vallery Expeditions as transport officer, and was present at the actions at Dea Surakh, the affair at Daronta Pass, the expedition into Besad, and the action with the Sapis, and at the capture of the Fort of Baninga. He also took part in the expedition to Kunar Valley, the destruction of Forts Abdul Khan and Barnaras Khan, and the expedition to Kama and Daktalzei. For these services he was mentioned in dispatches and received the medal and the brevet of major.
'Colonel Kingour was appointed to the command of the 2nd-5th Devon Regiment in September, 1914, and was stationed with the regiment at Newton Abbot, where he was much respected by all who knew him. He was a most popular officer, and his death will be regretted by the men who were in his charge.'
The abstract of his will describes him as Henry Kilgour 'of Anton Lodge, Andover, Hampshire.' He left an estate valued at £3348. Probate was granted to his widow, Mary.
His brothers Charles Kilgour, Arthur Kilgour and William Kilgour all emigrated to Australia and for this reason some far longer and more detailed obituaries appeared in the Australian press.