Below are more details of General George Channer's life together with The
Times Obituary and details of his burial and grave location..
Rgards to all,
Peter
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*General George Nicolas Channer VC CB*
General George Nicolas Channer VC CB (January 7, 1843 - December 13, 1905)
was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious
award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth forces.
Educated at Cheltenham College, he was 32 years old, and a captain in the
Bengal Staff Corps, Indian Army, and 1st Gurkha Rifles during the Perak War
when, on 20 December 1875 in Perak, Malaya, Captain Channer was the first to
jump into the enemy's stockade to which he had been despatched with a small
party to obtain intelligence of its strength and position.
The stockade was formidable and it would have been impossible to bring guns
to bear on it because of the steepness of the hill and the density of the
jungle. If Captain Channer and his party had not been able to take the
stockade in this manner it would have been necessary to resort to the
bayonet, with consequent great loss of life. He later achieved the rank of
General.
George Nicolas Channer Died 13 Dec 1905 at Buckleigh, Westward Ho, North
Devon
Burial at East-the-Water Cemetery, Bideford, Devonshire
*The Times, Saturday, December 16, 1905 OBITUARY*
General G. N. Channer, V.C.
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We regret to announce the death, which
took place on Wednesday at his residence,
Buckleigh, Westward Ho, North Devon,
after five years illness, of General George
Nicolas Channer, V.C., C. B.
General Channer, who was born on
January 7, 1843, was a son of Colonel
George Girdwood Channer, R. A. He was
educated at Truro and Cheltenham and
received his first commission in the Indian
Army in September, 1859. He served in the
North-West Frontier of India campaign,
1863-4, and at the forcing of the Umbeyla
Pass, receiving the medal with clasp. He
next served in the Perat Expedition, 1874-5,
and it was at this time that he performed the
act of gallantry for which he received the
Victoria Cross. On the night of December 20,
1875, he crept alone to the rear of one of the
enemy's stockades, getting close enough to
hear the voices of it's garrison and to
discover that they had placed no guard in
that quarter. He summoned his men and the
party dashed forward and under Captain Channer's lead rushed the
stockade, the officer shooting the first man
dead with his revolver. The stockade was of
a very formidable nature, and it was owing
to the courage and foresight of Captain
Channer that there was not the great loss of
life which would in all probability have
followed an attempt to seize the position at
the point of the bayonet. For his services he
was mentioned in dispatches, and received
in addition the Victoria Cross, the medal and
clasp, and the brevit of major. He also
served in the Jowaki Expedition, 1877-8, the
Afghan war, 1878-80, when he was present
at the forcing of the Peiwar Kotal, and the
Hazara Expedition, 1888, where he
commanded a brigade. For his services in
these campaigns he was several times
mentioned in despatches, received the
Afghan medal and clasps, was given the
brevit of lieutenant-colonel, and in April,
1889, was made a Companion of the Bath. In
November 1901, he was placed on
the Unemployed Supernumerary List. General
Channer married, in June, 1872, Annie
Isabella, daughter of John Williams Watson.
*GRAVE LOCATION FOR HOLDERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS
IN THE COUNTY OF : DEVONSHIRE*
Name: George Niccholas CHANNER
Rank: General
Force: Bengal Staff Corps and 1st Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army
VC won: 28 March 1879 Perak, Malaya
London Gaz: 12 April 1876
Born: Allahabad, India, 7 January 1843
Died: 13 December 1905, Westward Ho!
Grave: East-the-Water Cemetary, Bideford
*The Times, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1921 DEATHS*
**
CHANNER - On the 5th Dec., at Glamorgan Cottage, Chalfoat St. Peters,
Bucks., ANNIE ISABELLA, widow of GENERAL G. N. CHANNER, V.C., C.B., aged
75. Funeral at East-of-the-Water Cemetery, Bideford, North Devon, at 10:30
a.m., Friday, 9th Dec.
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