Sir Henry Edward Colville KCMG CB

July 10, 1852 to Nov 25, 1907

Henry Edward Colville was born at Kirkby Hall, Leicestershire, the son of Charles Robert Colville and Hon. Katherine Sarah Georgina Russell. Educated at Eton, Colville entered the Grenadier Guards in 1870 and in 1880 was appointed A.D.C. to General Sir Leicester Smyth commanding the forces in South Africa. Colville served in the Intelligence Department of the Suakin Expedition of 1884 distinguishing himself at the Battles of El Teb and Tamai.

He was employed on special service in the Sudan prior to the Nile Expedition of 1884-85 and served in that Expedition receiving the appointment of Chief of the Intelligence Department of the Frontier Force at the close of the expedition. Following the Battle of Ginnis in the Mahdist War, Colville was promoted to the rank of Colonel and was attached to the Intelligence Department at headquarters.

In 1893 he was appointed Commissioner (Acting) for Uganda where he commanded the Unyoro Expedition receiving numerous awards and a promotion to Major General on April 12, 1898. Prior to his retirement in 1901, Colville served as Commander, Infantry Brigade, Gibralter and Guards Brigade and 9th Division, South Africa 1899-1900.

Colville was twice married, first to Alice Rosa Daly on August 6, 1878 and secondly to Zelie Isabelle Richard de Preville on December 30, 1886 having one son by his second marriage.

Sir Henry Colville died when his motorcycle collided with a car at Bisley on November 25, 1907.