Henry McGee

Medals are shown left to right, as per the bullet point list above.

Henry Edward McGee joined the 19th Foot of Foot as an Ensign on 4th September 1840. His career progressed steadily, and he rose to the rank of Colonel during his 20 years of service.

Arriving in the Crimea on 14th September 1854, Major Henry McGee was wounded slightly at the Battle of Alma on 20 September, one of seven officers wounded that day.

McGee features in this image, taken by celebrated war photographer, Roger Fenton in the Crimea in June 1855. It shows a group of officers who had been present at the Battle of the Alma the previous year. McGee is 8th from the left, in profile, and looking to the left.

Recovering quickly, McGee was in command of the three companies which fought at Inkerman on 5 November, as recorded by 6 Company Lieutenant Lidwill, “Now the battalions and batteries, that had been fighting since daybreak, began to move off to their respective camps with sadly diminished numbers. I made my way to the 19th and informed McGee that the battle was over and won.”

McGee later commanded the whole regiment whilst Lieutenant Colonel Unett was on leave. Upon the latter’s return, McGee commanded part of the regiment at Sebastopol.

McGee was one of only eight individuals from the regiment to receive the Legion D’Honneur during the Crimean War. In 1859 McGee served with the 3rd West India Regiment, was promoted to Colonel the following year and sold his commission, presumably to fund a comfortable retirement in the Channel Islands.

Henry McGee died on the 28 April 1866 at St Peter Port, Guernsey, aged 46.