Captain Reginald Aloysius Lockhart

 

Captain Reginald Aloysius Lockhart

Reginald was born in 1845, the third son of the wealthy, Lockharts of Kent. The Lockharts were “new money”, with Reginald’s great grandfather, Augustus Lockhart, having earned the family’s fortune abroad in India.

Reginald attended the King’s School in Canterbury, gaining an acceptable education, but exceling at rugby and brawling with the other boys. He was popular amongst his peers, if not somewhat of a bully; his burgeoning leadership abilities coming to the fore. In 1863, at age 20, and following in his father’s footsteps, Reginald acquired his commission into Sandhurst, being of "good family" and having access to the patronage of one, Major Nicholas Hollingsworth.

In less than a year’s time Reginald graduated from military school with honours, the life of an army officer having obviously appealed to him. He was posted to serve with the First Battalion of the East Kent Regiment, more commonly known as “the Buffs, a prestigious regiment with a long history having served in the Peninsular, India and the Crimea.

The first decade of his military career saw the young Lieutenant Lockhart serving peace-time soldiering across the British Empire. He was garrisoned at many exotic places during this period including India, China and Malta. Throughout this time he yearned for the chance to prove himself on the battlefield, with the opportunity finally presenting itself in 1875 during a rebellion in Malaya, a minor conflict that would come to be called The Perak War. The campaign and rebellion was short lived but there were ample opportunities for heroism. Late in the campaign the British force was ambushed by rebels and Brigadier Hawkins was killed. Reginald rallied a large contingent of men during the chaos and was pivotal in preventing a more serious tragedy. His brave actions were mentioned in dispatches and eventually led him to receive his Captaincy, well after the campaign had ended, aged 36.

In 1881 Reginald married his wife Jane in Canterbury Cathedral shortly before being posted back to Malta amongst growing concerns in Egypt. A mutiny and revolt against corrupt rule eventually broke out in Alexandria and as a result many civilians were massacred. To protect their investments and the use of the Suez Canal, a British Expeditionary Force of over 40,000 troops, led by Sir Garnet Wolseley, the Buffs amongst them, was mustered and dispatched for Egypt in 1882. And thus begun the British conquest of Egypt.

Alexandria was bombarded, leaving the city mostly destroyed, and when a probing attack was announced to test the remaining defender’s resilience, Captain Reginald, volunteered to be amongst the force. The operation quickly concluded that the British could not land in Alexandria and so they moved swiftly onto Port Said.

With the bulk of Egyptians reportedly in retreat, General Alison, seeking to ascertain the strength of the enemy force, ordered a probing attack on the evening of 5th August 1882 along the Cairo railway line and a canal. It was during this relative minor engagement that Reginald almost lost his life.

The British force was split into two wings: The left wing would follow the canal in support of the right wing, while the right itself would follow the railway line and was to be supported by an armoured train. Captain Reginald was part of the force on the right wing and came into position by rail, with the armoured train leading the way. Ahead the railway line was broken, so the men disembarked and advanced under the cover of the railway embankment. The Egyptians, having trained their artillery on the break in the line in advance, opened fire on the armoured train. The British 40-pounder and two 9-pounders replied until they had silenced the Egyptian batteries. The 9-pounders then accompanied the men in their advance, whilst the 40-pounder continued to give supporting fire from the armoured train. Unbeknownst, the left wing British column had halted too far back and would be unable to provide the intended support.

As Captain Reginald and the men drew ahead of the halted left column, they came under heavy fire on their left flank from Egyptian soldiers posted along the banks of the canal. Seeing they were unsupported, Reginald ordered the charge and they rushed across the intervening ground, firing a volley before closing with fixed bayonets.

Leading the charge, Reginald was first to burst amongst the enemy line, making short and deadly work with his Webley and then his sabre. The men of the Buffs had followed his lead and had roared into the Egyptian line but a force of enemy soldiers enveloped Reginald’s position and cut him off from his men. Reginald was quickly outnumbered and a bayonet pierced clean through his right thigh, near severing an artery.

In the battle proper the Egyptians were fleeing now in all directions, but Reginald’s assailants were determined to take the fallen Captain with them and were dragging his limp form behind them. As Reginald’s sight faded to black he saw a mounted, turbaned figure ride down his adversaries, pluck him up into the saddle and deliver him from their clutches. The darkness enveloped him and he gratefully fell into unconsciousness.

Weeks later he awoke in a field hospital, barely alive, and with a horrific, career ending leg wound. He asked of his saviour’s name and learnt it was that of Naik (Corporal) Vinjay Singh of the 2^nd Bengal Cavalry. He wrote letters to Singh who was still on campaign in Egypt, thanking him for saving his life. Singh was later to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his selfless act of bravery. Reginald was eventually transported back to the garrison on Malta to recover, and then later, in early 1883, returned home to the Lockhard estate in Kent.

Reginald never fully recovered from his horrible wound and still carries a cane and bears a limp. He bought a residence in London and moved there with his wife and young family, as the country had become too quiet for him. News of the campaign in Egypt and the Sudan now only angers him, mainly because he has been denied the chance to serve and still desperately desires adventure. When he received word that Singh’s term of service had ended, he insisted the cavalryman come to London, where he remains to this day, a loyal and faithful, yet valued, servant of the Lockhart family.

Reginald is a member of the Army & Navy Club, his nights mostly taken up by regaling war stories in its cigar smoke filled halls. He lets himself indulge a little too much these days, believing this is his only joy in life. He has four children Elizabeth (9), Margaret (6), Jane (4) and Cecil (1).