Alfred Templeman

Major-General Alfred Templeman (1833 – 7 December 1914) was a career officer in the British Army, serving for 35 years and taking part in many of the major actions of the Crimean War.

Alfred Templeman
Born	1833 Uplyme, Devonshire
Died	7 December 1914 Hazelwood, Budleigh Salterton, Devonshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1852 - 1887
Rank	Major General
Unit	21st Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol Battle of the Alma Battle of Inkerman Battle of the Great Redan Battle of Kinburn (1855) Battle of Balaclava
Awards	Legion of Honour, 5th Class

Military Service

Templeman purchased his commission of 2nd Lieutenant in the 21st Regiment of Foot on the 26th of March 1852[1], and later the rank of Lieutenant on the 4th of March 1853[2].

Crimean War

Templeman was present on the front lines of the Battle of Inkerman with the 21st, and sustained minor injuries to the hand, being listed by Alexander Kinglake and acknowledged in the London Gazette.[3] He went on to fight at Sevastopol and Balaclava, went on the expedition to Kinburn and was part of the attack on the Redan.[4]

On the 2nd of February 1855, he was promoted without purchase to the rank of Captain.[5]

For his service in Crimea he was awarded the Legion of Honour 5th Class by the Emperor of France on the 2nd of August 1856, amongst other members of the British armed forces.[6] He was also awarded the Crimea Medal with clasps for Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann and Sebastopol. He was in possession of a tailor's copy of a Turkish Crimea Medal of Sardinian issue - as many British-issue medals were lost in transit, it is to be assumed that he procured his own copy.[7]

Further career

On the 5th of November 1857, Templeman was made Instructor of Musketry for his regiment.[8]

He purchased the rank of Major in February of 1868, was made Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on the 15th of March 1877[9], and then full Lieutenant-Colonel on the 23rd of January 1878.[10] He was then further promoted to Colonel on the 1st of July 1881.[11] Two years later, on the 23rd of January 1883, he was placed on to half pay.[12]

On the 6th of December 1887, it is recorded that he stepped down from the command of the 91st Regimental District (Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), whilst holding the rank of Honorary Major-General, and retired from the military.[13]

Legacy

A remembrance plaque to Templeman is at Auld Kirk of Ayr, Scotland.[14]

References

1. "The London Gazette Publication date: 26 March 1852 Issue:21304 Page:902".
2. "The London Gazette Publication date: 4 March 1853 Issue:21418 Page:671".
3. "The London Gazette Publication date:22 November 1854 Issue:21631 Page:3696".
4. "(235) - Army lists > Hart's Army Lists > New annual army list, militia list, yeomanry cavalry list, and Indian civil service list > 1882 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland". digital.nls.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
5. "The London Gazette Publication date:2 February 1855 Issue:21657 Page:387".
6. "The London Gazette Publication date:4 August 1856 Issue:21909 Page:2703".
7. "Lot 132, 24 February 2016 | Dix Noonan Webb". www.dnw.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
8. "The London Gazette Publication date:17 November 1857 Issue:22064 Page:3858".
9. "The London Gazette Publication date:20 April 1877 Issue:24445 Page:2676".
10. "The London Gazette Publication date:1 February 1878 Issue:24548 Page:522".
11. "The London Gazette Publication date:26 July 1881 Issue:24999 Page:3676".
12. "The London Gazette Publication date:13 March 1883 Issue:25211 Page:1386".
13. "The London Gazette Publication date:13 December 1887 Issue:25766 Page:6940".
14. "Major General A Templeman". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 2020-06-24.