Alfred Wilde

Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Thomas Wilde, KCB, CSI (1 November 1819–1878) was a British military officer in India. Of Kirby Cane Hall, Bungay, Wilde was the third son of Edward Archer Wilde, solicitor, of College Hill, Queen Street, London, by Marianne, daughter of William Norris. He was a brother of Lord Penzance and nephew of Lord Chancellor Truro. Educated at Winchester College, where he was a commoner from 1834 to 1837, he obtained a commission as ensign in the East India Company's army on 12 December 1838, and joined the 15th Madras Native Infantry in April 1839. He was transferred to the 19th Madras Native Infantry in June, was promoted to be lieutenant on 9 July 1842, qualified as interpreter in Hindustani in March 1843, and served with his regiment through the disturbances which occurred that year on the Malabar coast. In January 1847 Wilde was appointed adjutant, and in February quartermaster and interpreter to his regiment. In March 1850 he was transferred to the adjutancy of the 3rd Punjab infantry, and qualified as interpreter in Telugu. In April 1851 he was appointed second in command of the 4th Punjab Infantry, and was in command of the regiment and other troops at the occupation of the Bahadur Khel valley, Kohut District, in November, receiving the thanks of government for defeating a night attack of a body of Waziris upon the fort of Bahadur Khel. He succeeded to the command of the regiment on 21 February 1853. He was promoted to be brevet captain on 12 December, took part in the attack and capture of the village of Allah-dad-Khan in 1854, was promoted to be captain on 23 November 1856, and was thanked by the government of India for valuable service in the great inundation of the Indus in that year. In March 1857 Wilde commanded the 4th Punjab infantry in the expedition under Brigadier (afterwards Sir) Neville Chamberlain against the Bozdar Baluchis, who were totally defeated, and also throughout the Indian mutiny. He was at the siege of Delhi, and in the storming parties which captured the Delhi magazine and palace on 16 and 20 Sept., when he was wounded. He took part in the actions of Gangari, Pattiali, and Mainpuri in December, and in that of Shamsabad on 27 January 1858. He was promoted to be brevet major for his services at Delhi on 19 January, and was thanked by government.