General Sir Alexander WALLACE and family in India pre 1903

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Everyone,
Yesterday a good friend of mine from across the road had a drink with me in our local pub, and he pulled out a letter his mother had received 16 years ago from a distant American relative, and that they'd hardly looked at in the meantime.  There's details of an Indian army connection, and I was wondering how best to advise my friend to go about discovering more about his WALLACE family, who he imagines originated in Scotland before becoming involved with the British Army in India.
It appears that my friend's gt-grandfather was a General Sir Alexander WALLACE, and the only time frame on him seems to be that he had a daughter, Helen WALLACE, born in India in 1903.
I imagine with such a high-ranking officer there must be a great deal of biographical detail somewhere, and possible information about his ancestors.  Didn't Alistair McGowan turn up such a gentleman as an ancestor in the recent WDYTYA series on the BBC?
Some pointers would be much appreciated!
Very best wishes,
keith

[Barbara F]

Hello Keith

It might be worth looking at the links here

Topic: INDIA: Resources for Ancestors in British India
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,30580.0.html

Barbara

[ShaunJ]

Hi Keith

Found an obituary in The Times December 28 1922.

He was born c. 1858 son of Alexander Wallace, a merchant of Calcutta, educated at Framlingham. Distinguished military career in Indian army. Married Ethel Ross in 1889 (daughter of Colonel G C Ross) and they had 3 sons and one daughter. Will email it to you

[ShaunJ]

He had a brother Charles William Wallace who was vice chairman of BP ( or Anglo Persian as it was known in those days)

http://www.oldframlinghamian.com/images/articles/CHARLESWILLIAMWALLACE1870-71.pdf

[Keith Sherwood]

Shaun and Barbara,
Thanks so much for all that information and the links.  Apparently, because of a family rift, my friend told me that his mother's side of the family had never been much discussed.  I'm wondering whether he realises that there are such distinguished connections here in his family, so I'd better go and see him to discuss things further...
And, Shaun, does a "merchant of Calcutta" mean someone working for the East India Company, and if so, are there bound to be extensive records to be found on his father Alexander WALLACE...?
keith

[liverpool annie]

Found these ! 

MAJOR GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER WALLACE KCB (1870-74) – joined Army after leaving College and rose to the rank of Captain in the Indian Army by the age of only 19! Served in many overseas campaigns and during WW1 was Inspector General of Communications in Egypt. He was mentioned in dispatches twice and received the Order of the Nile. He was knighted in 1922. He was President of the SOF and a Trustee and Governor of the College. He died on Christmas Day 1922 at the age of 64.

MAJOR GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER WALLACE KCB (1870-74)
 
He was born on 22 August 1858 and after leaving the College joined the Army, rising to the rank of Captain in
the Indian Army by 1877, at the age of only 19!
Served in Afghanistan (79-80), Burma (86-88), North West Frontier (Hazara and Miranai campaigns in 1891),
Chilas (Pakistan) expedition (1892) when he was wounded twice, North West Frontier, Tochi and Bunir (1897),
North West Frontier again in 1901 and Somaliland in 1905.
He was appointed Brigadier General CB in 1908, followed by Major General in 1911.
At the outset of WW1 he raised and trained Fifteenth Scottish Division. From 1914 to 1916 he was Inspector
General of Communications in Egypt and was mentioned in dispatches twice and received the Order of the Nile. 
He was knighted in 1922.
Like his brother Charles, he was President of the SOF (1917), a Trustee and Governor (from 1917 until his
death).  Also like his brother (Charles William Wallace 1870-71), he distributed the prizes on Speech Day
(1909 & 1916).  He also unveiled in 1920 the WW1 memorial in the Chapel.
He died on Christmas Day 1922 at the age of 64.

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi again, Annie,
I was imagining you'd pop up, sooner rather than later, on the scent!  All fascinating stuff, and in an area I know absolutely nothing about until now...
keith

[liverpool annie]

Thought you might be interested in Garens' excellent  site

http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/

Annie 

[ShaunJ]

Keith, I would say that a "merchant of Calcutta" means just that - an entrepreneur, not an employee of the East India company. However I haven't found a reference to him yet. The DNB has an extensive article on the
Wallace brothers, merchants in Bombay and Burma and there is an Alexander mentioned there but I don't think it's the right one.

The Framlingham census for 1871 lists Alexander (1858) as having been born in London. (RG10/1762 f 100 p 6)