DEATH OF GENERAL M'NEILL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 21

DEATH OF GENERAL M'NEILL.

A VICTORIA CROSS HERO. WANGANUI, May 27. News by private cable received this morning announces the death ar St. James’s Palace, London, of Major-Gene-ral Sir John AlcNeill, V.C., G.C.V.0., K.C.8., Equerry to the King. Deceased wa3 a brother of Air Alex. AlcNeill, sen., of Wanganui. Deceased, who was the eldest son of the late Captain Alexander McNeill, of Colonsay, Greenock, was seventy-three years of age. He entered the army in 1850, and had a long ana varied experience in active service. He served as A.D.v,. to Sir Edward Lugard in the Indian Mutiny in 1858, being present at the siege and. capture of Lucknow, and at the operations of the Azimghur field force, Deing mentioned in despatches, and for his alslinguished services he received a medal with clasp. In 18S1 he came out to New Zealand, and was A.D.C. to Sir Duncan Cameron during the Alaori war till 1855. lie took part in the actions at the Gate Pah, liangiriri. Rangiaohia, and Nukumaru, receiving a medal and Victoria Cross for his gallantry. „ In 1866-7 he was in command of the Tipperary Hying Column during the Fenian disturbance. From 1869 to 1872 he was Alilitary Secretary to Lprd Lisgar, Governor-General of Canada, and in 1870 was attached to the staff of the Red River Expedition. Me was colonel on the staff, and second in command of the Ashantee Expedition n 1873-4, being present at the destruction of Essaman, where lie ivas very severely wounded; and at Anaquana, Akimroo ana. Ampenee. Sir John AlcNeill served through the Egyptian campaign of 1832, receiving a medal, a bronze star, ami. the second-class medjidie, as well as a K.G.B. He was Brigadier-General in the Suakim Expedition in 1885, and commanded force at Tofrik. In 1874 he was to His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief. In 18S0 he accompanied Prince Leopold to Canada, and in 1882 the Luke of Connaught to Egypt. Deceased, who was unmarried, had been living in retirement of late years.