Description
Indian Mutiny, bar Central India, Reverend Charles Thomas Wilson, Assistant Chaplain to the Rajpootana Field Force.
Officially impressed: “Asst Chaplain. C.T. Wilson. Rajpootana Fd Force.”
Particularly rare to see named to this unit, as they campaigned later into the war, most of the attached Officers and Men had already earned a medal named to another unit, only a few examples have turned up to officers over the years.
Just before leaving for India he was the Curate of the Parish of Brixham. An anonymous local dropped him a letter disagreeing with his “Apostolical Fathers” Book, so being the particular fellow that he was, he published an amusing 30 page essay in reply to the Parishioners of Brixham which ends:
“May God bring the writer to see and feel the grievous sins he has fallen into of evil speaking and false witness; and may he secure at length for himself that peace, which he has done his best to destroy, whether for an individual like myself, or for the Church at large!
Believe me to be your Faithful Friend and Pastor, C.T. Wilson, Dec 1854.”
You can read most of his theological research online as it is now out of copyright.
His lengthy obituary in the Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 11th February 1905 gives a detailed summary of his life:
“DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CHAPLAIN AT BEXHILL
The death is recorded of the Rev Chas. T. Wilson, a famous Army Chaplain during the Indian Mutiny. He died at Bexhill-on-Sea last Friday, at the ripe age of 89.
He was a son of the late Professor Horace Hayman Wilson, the famous Sanscrit scholar and Boden Professor at Oxford.
He entered Harrow School in 1831, and was a member of the cricket 11 playing against Eton in 1833. He went to Exeter College, Oxford in 1835, gaining the Busby Scholarship. He was ordained in 1837, and in 1855 proceeded to India as Chaplain in the H.E.I.C.S.
He served as Chaplain to the force under General Roberts’ Command in Rajputana during the Indian Mutiny, and received a medal and clasp.
He was afterwards Chaplain at the Cathedral, Bombay.
On the completion of his period of service in India, he was presented to the vicarage of Tong, Salop.
He was the author of several religious works – “The Apostolical Fathers” “Readings in St Paules Epistles”, “Sermons for Soldiers,” and others.
The Rev C.T. Wilson has resided for some time at 7, Albany-Mansions. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, the ceremonies being of a quiet nature. The first portion of the service was held at St Barnabas Church, and subsequently the internment took place at Clinch Green Cemetery, the Rev E. Mortlock officiation
The floral tributes were of a beautiful character, some of them coming from as far as Wolverhampton. The coffin was of a polished oak with massive brass mountings, with a suitable inscription.
The funeral arrangements were in the capable hands of Messrs Cunningham, Sabin, and Co., Mr F. Cunningham personally superintending them.”
Bombay Gazette 21st September 1855:
“The most Honourable Court of Directors have appointed the Reverend Charles Thomas Wilson, M.A., as an Assistant Chaplain on the Ecclesiastical Establishment of this Presidency.”
In his later life he gained a great interest in the Russian language, after learning it he wrote “Russian Lyrics in English Verse”, an interesting chronicle of Russian Poetry, which was well reviewed, he wrote some excellent well researched biographies of the authors concerned.
The Bombay Gazette 1860, notes he was present on the occasion of the Presentation of Colours to HMS 95th Regiment. A snippet reads:
“The 95th Regiment then advanced in a double column of companies, and closing to quarter distance, were halted close to the pile of drums, the officers and old colours taking post in front; the other troops also moving up on either flank.
Reverend C.T. Wilson, who for the last 2 years has officiated as Chaplain to the Rajpootana Field Force, then offered up the customary prayers in an impressive Honours.
Lt Colonel The Hnble E Massey, the 2nd in Command, then took the new colours from the pile of drums, and….
