Henry Knollys

“ In 1872 he had once more a short interlude of military duty, having been appointed, in conjunction with Sir Hope Grant, umpire in chief during the well-known Salisbury manœuvres. In 1877 he resigned his position in the household of the Prince of Wales, and accepted that of gentleman usher of the black rod. At the same time he was nominated to the honorary post of groom of the stole to the prince. In 1883 Knollys was gazetted to the colonelcy of the Scots guards, the regiment in which he had begun his soldier's life nearly seventy years previously. ”

“ Grant on his return from China was appointed commander-in-chief of the Madras army, 1862-3. In 1865 he was made quartermaster-general at the Horse Guards, and in 1870 was selected for the command of the camp at Aldershot. His tenure of this post marks the beginning of almost a new phase of military instruction throughout the British army. Hitherto the Prussian system of manœuvring troops as two opposing forces had been angrily denounced by most of our military authorities as childish, and even pernicious. ”

“ GRANT, Sir JAMES HOPE (1808–1875) , general, youngest son of Francis Grant of Kilgraston House, Perthshire, was born 22 July 1808 and educated at the high school, Edinburgh, and at Hofwyl, Switzerland. He received his first commission as cornet in the 9th lancers in 1826, in which regiment he remained until 1858, when he was promoted to the rank of major-general. His career represents an experience of India and China warfare such as falls to the lot of few. ”

“ Grant served throughout the first Chinese war, and was present at the attack and capture of Chin-kiang-foo and at the landing before Nankin. He had attained the rank of regimental-major in 1842, and for his services in China was nominated a C.B. In 1844 he rejoined the 9th lancers, which meanwhile had proceeded to India. He served with his regiment during the Sutlej campaign of 1845-6, including the hard-fought battle of Sobraon. ”

“ In 1861 he accepted, at the instance of the prince consort, the post of president of the council of military education. In 1862 he was selected by the queen as treasurer and comptroller of the household of the Prince of Wales, who had recently entered on his twenty-first year. ”

“ He then mentions him in his private journals with warm approval, and subsequent entries show how much this favourable opinion was strengthened and increased during the China war of 1860. When others were somewhat aghast at what they considered the 'advanced views' of Wolseley, Grant would good-humouredly laugh, and in many instances tacitly supported or even openly advocated them. ”