THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL WILSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9346, 24 April 1889, Page 5

THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL WILSON.

Major-General George Alfred Wilson, ; fourth son of the Rev. J. A. Wilson, C.M.S. (the notice of whose decease has 'already appeared in the New Zealand . Herald's obituary column), died at St. Heliers, Jersey, January. 21. He was born atTauranga, New Zealand,' February -14,' , "1838, and was educated at Mr. Kempthorue's school, Parnell, and at St. John's .College, under Archdeacon Abraham, . In 1 .1861, after six months' " coaching up " in England, he passed 25th out of 90 successful, candidates for . direct commissions in: • ,the -army. The deceased officer first served , as cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, . "The Queen's Bays," and, after having " been, connected with this regiment for ; ■ ~ four years, was posted to the Loyal North -Lancashire Regiment , {then the 81st), at .present stationed, in Jersey, and - with ' - iriiicii he remained IS years. He then joined the East Surrey Regiment, with the i rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, arid after " • having been in.command of this regiment for some time, retired little more than a year ago, with the rank of Major- .' General. While serving with the Slst, " Regiment he commanded a company during ■ the last Afghan campaign, and was present at the capture of Ali Musjed, and other .' operations in the Kyber Pass under General Sam Brown, for which he received the war ; medal. In 1869 he married Frances, daughter of Mr. J. Clayton, of Preston. It : may also be mentioned that in 1860-61 the f late General Wilson served as a subaltern in the Auckland Militia, and that, when , , tho 43rd Regiment was under orders for ser-; -vice in New Zealand, he volunteered to join them .as interpreter, but could not obtain leave out of India. He was, probably, the first New Zealander born who, commanded a British regiment. The deceased officer was, by permission of the ' Governor of Jersey, at the request of the officers of his old regiment (the Loyal North Lancashire), buried with military honours on January 2-1. *