Ryves, Hervey Ekins

Summary

Father: William Henry Ryves
Mother: Emma Maxwell

Birth: 14 Nov 1841, Bareilly, India
Birth Source: British Library, India Office Records
Baptism: 21 Feb 1818 Meerut, Bengal, India
Baptism Source: British Library, India Office Records

Death: Bordighera, Italy
Death Sources: Research notes by Stephen Sladen & Probate record

Spouse1: Catherine Graves

Narrative

Children of Hervey Ekins Ryves and Catherine Graves:

1. ‎Benjamin Hervey Ryves‏‎, b.14 Nov 1874 d.21 Feb 1961
2. Nettie Catherine Ryves‏‎, b.‎22 Jan 1877 d.1955
3. Alice May Ryves, b.25 Dec 1878 d.26 Nov 1926
4. William Nevile Ryves, b.2 Sep 1881 d.30 Sep 1912

Hervey was a Colonel (confirmed in 1886) in the Bengal Army. He raised the 8th Bengal Lancers at Sultanpore in 1846 and served under the Duke of Connaught's personal command at Meerut, India. The Duke of Connaught, Prince Albert, was Queen Victoria's 6th son. He was also a Captain and then Major (promoted 1879) in the Bengal Staff Corps. He and his wife entertained and saw a great deal of the royal pair. The Duchess of Connaught presented Catherine with a full length autographed picture of herself. The Duke escorted Catherine at engagements while Hervey escorted the Duchess.

It would seem that Hervey was a supporter of the temperance movement as February 1883 he chaired a meeting in support of the Cornwall Sunday Closing Bill which was intended to prohibit the sale of 'intoxicating liquor' on Sundays in Cornwall.

Hervey's decorations and awards included: India General Service Medal 1854-95, with clasp: North West Frontier; Abyssinian War Medal 1867-68; 2nd Afghan War Medal 1878-80; Egyptian Campaigns Medal 1882-89, with clasp: Tel-el-Kebir; Khedive's Egyptian Star 1882-91.

Prior to his death he and his wife Catherine had settled in Italy. She is noted as still residing there at the time probate was granted on his will on the 23rd March 1891.

Research notes

Biographical notes taken from research by Stephen Sladen, Army records & newspaper archives.

Sources

British Library, India Office Records
The London Gazette, 12th September, 1879
National Army Museum Inventory
Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 16 February 1883