Edward Knight's Family
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Walter Brook Rice. [3]
[Walter Brook Rice's biography is transcribed in full on a separate page.]
Born March 20th 1837.
Ensign, Royal Artillery, February 28th 1855.
Lieutenant, April 1st 1855.
Captain, May 17th 1862.
Major, July 5th 1872.
Lieutenant-Colonel, September 7th 1881.
Retired, September 7th 1886 with the Honorary rank of Major-General.
He served in the Crimean Campaign, being present at the siege of Sebastopol. Awarded the Crimean War medal with bar, and the Turkish medal for the Crimea.
'Walter brought laughter into any assembly and had true gaiety of heart, his wit and humour were always kind. Like his brother Augustus, he was quick at repartee – on one occasion, when dining with friends, he asked permission to change his seat, as being very susceptible to heat and cold, he found the fire behind him like a furnace. 'Humph', said an old general, 'I did not know that young officers could not stand fire.' 'Not at their backs Sir,' said Walter at once.
His health was never good and he was often obliged to go on sick leave – but he stuck to his profession and completed his years of service, remaining for 31 years in the Royal Artillery.
After his retirement he settled for a time in a village near Dane Court – but the climate of East Kent did not ...
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