Major General Robert Ranken,35th Madras Native Infantry,(Major in photograph),

by Fred Larimore.
comments to fbl@dca.net
Copyright © 1995-1997

Photograph and Uniform Details.

Major General Robert Ranken shows the following dates of rank, campaign service, and army appointments related to his service in the Indian Army: [1]

  • Ensign 12 June 1841.
  • Lieutenant 1 May 1844.
  • Captain 29 November 1849.
  • Second Burma War ( Pegu)(Medal) 1852-1853.
  • Indian Mutiny (Medal) 1859.
  • Sub-Assistant Commissaries General (Jubbelpore) 16 June 1860.
  • Assistant to General Superintendent of Operations 8 June 1860.
  • Madras Staff Corps 18 February 1861.
  • Major 12 June 1861.
  • Lieutenant Colonel 12 June 1867.
  • Colonel 12 June 1872.
  • Major General 9 June 1877.

    Robert Ranken joined the 35th Regiment of Native Infantry as an Ensign in 1841. He served as a Captain of his Regiment during the second Burmese war, and was present at the operations and capture or Rangoon in April, and capture Prume in October 1852 (Medal and Clasp, Pegu ).

    Served as a Captain during the Indian Mutiny in Central India with the Sauger Field Division (Medal).

    On the 8th of June 1860 Captain Robert Ranken was appointed assistant to the General Superintendent of Operations for the suppression of Thuggee and Dacoity at Jubbulpore.

    By 1865 Major Ranken had passed examinations as an interpreter in Hindustani and Persian.

    Robert Ranken served in the East India Company, Madras Army and after the mutiny in the Indian Army for a total of 36 years, achieving the rank of Major General. He retired in 1877.

    [1] East India Company Registar, 1860; Quarterly Army List Madras Establishment , June and September 1865; and Harts Army List, 1868.
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