George Nicolas Channer
Captain, Bengal Staff Corps and 1st Gurkha Rifles
- Register No.
- 200 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Bengal Staff Corps and 1st Gurkha Rifles all Bengal Staff Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 December 1875 on this day → all of 1875 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Perak War
- London Gazette
- 12th April 1876 on this day → all of 1876 →
- Born
- 7th January 1843 at Allahabad, India
- Died
- 13th December 1905 at Westward Ho, in Devon
- Memorial / grave
- Not Known
Digest of citation
On 20 December 1875 at Perak, Malaya Captain Channer was the first to jump into the enemy's stockade to which he had been despatched with a small party to obtain intelligence of its strength and position. The stockade was formidable and it would have been impossible to bring guns to bear on it because of the steepness of the hill and the density of the jungle. If Captain Channer and his party had not been able to take the stockade in this manner it would have been necessary to resort to the bayonet, with consequent great loss of life
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CHANNER, George Nicolas. (Reg. No.200)
Captain . Bengal Staff Corps and 1st Gurkha Rifles.
London Gazetted on 12th April 1876.
Born on 7th January 1843 at Allahabad, India.
Died on 13th December 1905 at Westward Ho, in Devon.
Memorial Not Known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 20 December 1875 at Perak, Malaya Captain Channer was the first to jump into the enemy's stockade to which he had been despatched with a small party to obtain intelligence of its strength and position. The stockade was formidable and it would have been impossible to bring guns to bear on it because of the steepness of the hill and the density of the jungle. If Captain Channer and his party had not been able to take the stockade in this manner it would have been necessary to resort to the bayonet, with consequent great loss of life.
Additional information: He was the son of Colonel George Girdwood Channer and his wife, Susan, the daughter of the vicar of Lanlivery, Cornwall, the Reverend Nicolas Kendal. His education took place at Truro Grammar School and Cheltenham College. He joined the Bengal Infantry as an Ensign and was promoted Lieutenant in 1861. He served on the North West Frontier of India, taking part in the Umbeyla Expedition of 1863-64.(Medal & clasp); the Lushai Expedition 1870-71; the Malay Peninsula 1875-76 where he won his VC. He was thanked by the Indian Government and the Colonial Office and a clasp was added to the Frontier Medal marked ‘Perak'. In his next campaign, in 1877-78, the Jawaki Afridi Expedition, he obtained another clasp. He married Annie Isabella Watson of Shooter's Hill (daughter of J.W.Watson) and had ten children, six boys and four girls.. Unfortunately , two of the boys Died on ar early ages. He served in the Afghan War 1878-80, serving at the capture Peiwar Kutal and many minor skirmishes. He was made Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel as well as being mentioned in Despatches and medal and clasp. He commanded the 1st Brigade in the Black Mountain Expedition. He was made a CB and again Mentioned in Despatches and a clasp to the medal. Awarded a Good Service Pension in 1893 and promoted Major-General; to Lieutenant-General in 1896; to General in 1899. He enjoyed shooting and exploring. He was an excellent shot. A great deal of his free time was spent exploring the Himalayas and Tibet.
Additional information
He was the son of Colonel George Girdwood Channer and his wife, Susan, the daughter of the vicar of Lanlivery, Cornwall, the Reverend Nicolas Kendal. His education took place at Truro Grammar School and Cheltenham College. He joined the Bengal Infantry as an Ensign and was promoted Lieutenant in 1861. He served on the North West Frontier of India, taking part in the Umbeyla Expedition of 1863-64.(Medal & clasp); the Lushai Expedition 1870-71; the Malay Peninsula 1875-76 where he won his VC. He was thanked by the Indian Government and the Colonial Office and a clasp was added to the Frontier Medal marked ‘Perak'. In his next campaign, in 1877-78, the Jawaki Afridi Expedition, he obtained another clasp. He married Annie Isabella Watson of Shooter's Hill (daughter of J.W.Watson) and had ten children, six boys and four girls.. Unfortunately , two of the boys Died on ar early ages. He served in the Afghan War 1878-80, serving at the capture Peiwar Kutal and many minor skirmishes. He was made Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel as well as being mentioned in Despatches and medal and clasp. He commanded the 1st Brigade in the Black Mountain Expedition. He was made a CB and again Mentioned in Despatches and a clasp to the medal. Awarded a Good Service Pension in 1893 and promoted Major-General; to Lieutenant-General in 1896; to General in 1899. He enjoyed shooting and exploring. He was an excellent shot. A great deal of his free time was spent exploring the Himalayas and Tibet.
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