The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-05 00:00:00

THE LATE SIR HENRY DURAND.
,The country has lost the valuable services of one of her
most distinguished soldier-statesmen in the person of Sir
Henry Marion Durand, intelligence cf whose death in
India on the Ist inst., from a fall from an elephant, has
been received at the India Office. Not only his military
but his great administrative abilities rendered him one of
the foremost of the high officials in India; being a member
of the Council of the Viceroy and Governor-General, a
position he had held with uninterrupted approbation since
the spring of 1865. The late Sir Henry Durand received
his education at Addiscombe, where his high attainments
procured him a commission as second lieutenant in the
Bengal Engineers, the highest military branch in the East
India Company's Service in June, 1828. He became
lieutenant 20th April, 1835, and accompanied the army
under General Sir John Keane during the Affghanistan
campaign in 1239, and at the commencement of the cam-
paign spewed a military spirit of future eminence. He
was present at Sir John Keane's capture of Ghuznee,
where the commander-in-chief first encountered Prince
Hyder, son of Dost Mahomed, who, with a garrison of
3,500 Affghans, defended the fortress and citadel, which
were of formidable strength, and able to sustain a prolonged
defence. When before the enemy it was found that the
siege train was left at Candahar. To quote General St.
Vincent Eyre's " Retrospect of the Affghan War," &c,"
recently circulated :—" At this crisis an officer of Bengal
Engineers came to the rescue with the happy proposal to
blow open the only accessible gate with gunpowder. This
was successfully accomplished in the partial obscurity of
early dawn by a party of Sappers, headed by Lieutenant
Durand, of the Bengal Engineers, who volunteered for the
duty, and who is believed to have originated the idea."
His subsequent services with the army in India had ex-
tended over several of the most brilliant campaigns, and
during the terrible mutiny. He served in the Gwalior
campaign of 1843-44, and was present at the battle of
Maharajpore. He served in the Punjaub campaign of
1845-6, including the battles of Chillianwallah and Goo-
jerat, for which he was made brevet-major. As agent to
the Governor-General in Central India in 1857, he was
present at the battle of Mundesore, siege and capture of
Dhar, and several minor affairs. His conduct was
reported by Earl Canning " to have been marked by great
foresight and the soundest judgment as well in military as
civil matters," and that " Colonel Durand saved our
interests in India until support could arrive." In
recognition of his gallant military services he was
nominated a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1858,
and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star
of India in February, 1867. His commissions bore date
as follows :—Second lieutenant, June 12, 1828; lieutenant,
April 20, 1835 ; captain, November 30, 1844 ; brevet-
major, June 7, 1849; brevet lieutenant-colonel, November
26, 1854 ; lieutenant colonel, August 13, 1858o;cjoeorn and
colonel,
;l,
February 18, 1861 ; and major-general,Maharajpore,
anMarcch 1, 1867.
medallle had
withr received et iwvo clasps
e d th e bfroorn
Chillianwallahz e star fot
and also a medal for his services in Central India.

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