The Irish Bomfords

Francis Eteson

Information here was extracted from the website of the London Medal Company in September 2017, from an advertisement for a 'fine India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Pegu, awarded to Lieutenant later Major General Francis Eteson, 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot, late 28th and 52nd Foot, and later commanding officer of the 3rd East Kent Regiment of Foot – the Buffs, who was present during the Second Burmese War in the Pegu Campaign at the capture of Martaban, Rangoon, Prome, and the Donabew stockades.' The ultimate source is not known.

Francis Eteson was born on 17 November 1830 in Calcutta, India, the son of the Reverend R Eteson, Chaplain in the East India Company’s service, and then educated at King William’s College, Isle of Man through to August 1847.

Appointed an Ensign into the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment of Foot on his leaving college in 1847, Eteson was promoted to Lieutenant by purchase into the 52nd Regiment of Foot – the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in 1852, and was then promoted to Captain in 1853.

Eteson embarked for India on 30 June 1852, and was posted to the Headquarters at Lucknow, being then attached to the 18th Foot, he transferred as a Lieutenant without purchase to the 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot on 27 May 1853 whilst on operations during the Burmese War.

Eteson saw service with the Royal Irish during the Second Burmese War in the Pegu Campaign which lasted from 28 March 1852 through to 30 June 1853. Eteson is confirmed as having been present during the operations at the capture of Martaban, Rangoon, Prome, and the Donabew stockades.

Eteson went on to service for a number of years on the Headquarters Staff of the Army in India, and back in the United Kingdom at Kearnsey and Dover. Eteson was promoted to Major in 1872, and in 1873 was appointed to the Bengal Adjutant-General’s Department.

Having transferred to the 3rd East Kent Regiment of Foot – the Buffs in 1878, to Lieutenant Colonel in 1879, and the Colonel in 1884, being retiring as an Honorary Major General in 1888.