Lt.Col. C. East (Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General),

Lt.Col. C. East (Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General), present at Ulundi - Memorial Plaque (Sandhurst).
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Photo By Tim Needham.

General Sir Cecil James East, KCB, was a senior British Army Officer. He was born on the 10 July 1837, and was privately educated. He joined the Army on 18 August 1854 as an ensign in the 82nd Regiment of Foot, and graduated on the 5 June 1855 as a Lieutenant (3rd ensign) in the Regiment serving at Edinburgh Castle. He graduated from the Staff College in 1862, and was promoted to Second Captain in the Regiment, 17 November 1863; Captain 13 August 1866 in the 41st Regiment of Foot; Brevet Major, 11 September 1872; Major, 29 September 1988 in the 57th Regiment of Foot; Lieutenant-Colonel, 17 May 1879; Brevet Colonel, 29 November 1879, Major-General, 23 January 1889, Lieutenant-General, 28 May 1896, and General, 27 August 1902.
He served in the Crimean War in 1855, at the siege and fall of Sevastopol, received a medal and clasp and Turkish medal. He arrived in India on 11 October 1857, and was involved in the Indian Mutiny at the battle of Pandoo Nuddee and was severely wounded, he received a medal. In 1863 he joined the 41st Regiment of Foot and served as A.Q.M. with the Chittagong Column on the Lushai Expeditionary Force in 1871-1872, mentioned in despatches, received a medal with clasp and thanked by the Government of India. In 1879 during the Zulu War he was Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, and was present at the battle of Ulundi, mentioned in despatches, thanked in general orders, received a medal and clasp. Served with the Burmese Expedition, 1886-1889, commanded the 1st Brigade after the capture of Mandalay, mentioned in despatches, thanked by the Government of India, received two clasps.
East's staff service included: D.A.Q.M.G., Bengal 15 November 1865 to 31 May 1868; A.Q.M.G., Bengal, 1 June 1868 to 5 January 1872; 1st A.Q.M.G., H.Q. of the Army, India, 6 January 1872 to 23 February 1875; D.A.Q.M.G., (Intelligence Branch), H.Q. of the Army, 1 April 1876 to 29 January 1879; A.Q.M.G., (Intelligence Branch), H.Q. of the Army, 30 January 1879 to 16 May 1879; D.A. and Q.M.G.C. of Good Hope, 17 May 1879 to 20 November 1879; A.Q.M.G. (Intelligence branch), H.Q. of Army, 21 November 1879 to 26 June 1873; Brigadier-General, Bengal, 30 July 1883 to 16 September 1886; Brigadier-General, Burmese Expedition, 17 September 1886 to 14 May 1887; Brigadier-General, Bengal, 15 May 1887 to 29 July 1888; Major-General, Madras, 23 April 1889 to 27 October 1893. In 1893 he returned to England and was Governor and Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 19 December 1893-1898. He retired from the Army on 19 December 1903.
East received a CB in 1887 and a KCB in 1897. He died at Winchester on the 14 March 1908, and was buried in Kingsworthy Church yard near Winchester.