Captain Wolseley served through the Indian Mutiny, and was present at the relief of Lucknow, the defence of the Alumbagh, the siege and capture of Lucknow, the affair of Baree, and the action at Nawabgungee (Repeatedly mentioned in despatches, promoted to be Major with Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, Medal with clasp).
Lieutenant-Colonel Wolseley served on the staff of Sir Hope Grant in the war of 1860 in China, and was present at the assault of the Taku Forts, and in all the other engagements throughout the campaign (Medal with two clasps).
During service on the staff in Canada, Colonel Wolseley was employed from 1868 to 1870 in dealing with the Fenian raids (Medal with two clasps), and he commanded the expedition sent in 1870 from Canada to the Red River Territory for the suppression of the Rebel Government at Fort Garry (K.C.M.G., C.B., Clasp).
Sir Garnet Wolseley was Governor of the Gold Coast and Commander of the Forces during the Ashanti War of 1873-74. For this service he received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, was promoted to be Major-General for Distinguished Service in the Field, and was awarded the G.C.M.G., K.C.B., and Medal and clasp.
In June, 1879, Sir Garnet Wolseley went to South Africa as Governor and High Commissioner of Natal; he completed the subjugation of the Zulus, brought the war to an end, and afterwards overpowered Sekukuni’s forces, and destroyed their stronghold (G.C.B., Medal and clasp).
Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley was Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Army throughout the Egyptian War of 1882, in which campaign that army in the space of twenty-five days effected its disembarkation at Ismailia, traversed the desert, fought the decisive battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and seized Cairo, the capital. He received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, was raised to the Peerage, and promoted to be General for Distinguished Service in the Field (Medal with clasp, 1st Class of the Osmanieh, and Khedive’s Star).
Lord Wolseley commanded the Forces in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85. He received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, was raised to be Viscount in the Peerage, and was awarded two clasps. The prize which Lord Wolseley offered to the Battalion which made the fastest passage up the Nile was won by the 1st Battalion of the 18th Royal Irish.
On his return from the Soudan, Viscount Wolseley resumed his post of Adjutant-General to the Forces, which he held until 1890, when he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland. He was promoted to be Field-Marshal on the 26th of May, 1894. In 1895, Lord Wolseley was appointed to succeed H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge as Commander-in-Chief, and held this post for five years. On the 20th of July, 1898, Lord Wolseley was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Victoria to be Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Irish Regiment.
Colonels.
1. Arthur Forbes, Earl of Granard.