Charles Ellice

Sir Charles Ellice
General Sir Charles Ellice
Born	10 May 1823
Died	12 November 1888 (1888-11-13) (aged 65)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	General
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Charles Henry Ellice GCB (10 May 1823 – 12 November 1888) was a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.

He was born at Florence on 10 May 1823, was second son of General Robert Ellice, the brother of the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, secretary at war, and Eliza Courtney.

Having passed through Sandhurst, Charles Ellice was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards on 10 May 1839. He served in Canada in 1840-2, and became lieutenant and captain on 8 August 1845. He exchanged to the 82nd foot on 20 March 1846, and to the 24th foot, of which his father was colonel, on 3 April. He went with that regiment to India in May, but was aide-de-camp to his father (commanding the troops in Malta) from 17 March 1848 to 3 March 1849, and so missed the second Sikh war. He was promoted major on 21 December 1849, and lieutenant-colonel on 8 August 1851. On 28 November 1854 he became colonel in the army.

The 24th was at Peshawar when the Indian Mutiny broke out. On 4 July 1857, Ellice was sent to Jhelum with three companies of it, some native cavalry, and three guns, to disarm the 14th Bengal native infantry and other troops. He arrived rode ahead to discuss the disarming of the garrison with their British Commander and made preparation for it to be carried out the following day whilst the 14th Bengal Native Infantry were on parade. The 14th mutinied on sighting Ellice's forces on the morning of the 7th and he attacked and routed them during what became known as the Battle of Jhelum. He was dangerously wounded in the neck, right shoulder, and leg leading a charge to break through the enemy lines. He was mentioned in despatches, received the medal, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1858.