Altham | Edward Altham | | Colonel | CB, (1904), CMG (1901), 3rd Class Order of the Sacred Treasure (Japan), of 114, Earl's Court Road, London, SW, and of the Junior Naval and Military Club, Lond; was born Apr 13, 1856, at Wilton, Somersetshire, and is the second son of Major W S Altham, of Bridgwater. The Althams are a very old family. A younger son was Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and a daughter of one of the Altham line was wife of Sir John Bankes, who pluckily held Corfe Castle—under historic circumstances—against a siege by Roundheads during the Civil Wars. Colonel Altham was educated at Winchester, and Christ Church, Oxford. He joined the Royal Scots in 1876, and was employed with the MI Company of that regiment through Sir Chas. Warren's Bechuanaland expedition in 1884-5; was District Adjt., Cape Town, 1885-7; PSC, 1889; DAAG, I NW District 1893-6, and was employed in the Intelligence division of the War Office from 1896 to 1899, except from July, 1896, to Mar, 1897, when he was Military Secretary, to the GOC in South Africa, Sir W Goodenough. During the Boer War Colonel Altham served as AAG for Intelligence on Sir George White's staff up to the relief of Ladysmith, and subsequently on Lord Methuen's staff in the OFS (medal with four clasps, and promoted Lt. Colonel); was appointed AQMG of the strategic branch of the War Office on the re-organisation of the HG Staff in 1901, and retired on half-pay in 1904. Colonel Altham married in 1880 Emily Georgina, daughter of W Macpherson Nicol, of Inverness. | Staff |