T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Major-General
On 29 November 1879 Captain Laye
Joseph Henry Laye, CB, CVO
was promoted to Brevet Major and on 1
July 1881 to the substantive rank of Major
1849 - 1938 in the Scottish Rifles - this is the first time
Colonel of The Regiment The Cameronians
the new designation for the 90th Foot is
(Scottish Rifles) 1910-1918
recorded on his record of service sheets.
In 1881, Hugh Childers, the Secretary of
My father, Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas
State for War, completed the process of
Graham Moncrief, MC, served throughout
linking infantry battalions which had
the First and Second World Wars in The
been initiated by Edward Cardwell, one of
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He often
his predecessors. Under these reforms the
told me that it was the influence of Major-
90th Foot became the 2nd Battalion The
General Laye which made him choose The
Cameronians in 1881.
Cameronians as his regiment. How did
He had a further period of service
this, at first sight, strange connection come
in India from 6 January 1887 to 9 July
about? Read on!
1889. On 10 October 1889 Major Laye
Major-General Joseph Henry Laye was
was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
born in Auckland, New Zealand on 4
and took over command of 1st Battalion
February 1849. He was the son of Major-
Scottish Rifles who were then stationed
General Joseph Henry Laye, CB. His
in the Curragh. In 1890 the Battalion
mother, before their marriage on 23 May
moved from Cork to Aldershot and in
1848, was Emelia Maria Pitt, the second
October 1893 it moved to Portsmouth,
of the five daughters of Major-General
whereupon he relinquished command and
George Dean Pitt, KH (Knight of the Order
was put on half pay. However he became
of the Guelphs of Hannover). At that time
a Brevet Colonel on 6 January 1894 with
General Pitt was the Lieutenant Governor
of New Ulster, which was then the name
for the northern half of the North Island of
New Zealand. In addition his grandfather
was Lieutenant-General Francis Laye, (1752-
1828), Royal Artillery. Clearly the young
Joseph Henry had a very distinguished
military pedigree. He had a younger sister
Rose, who was born in Auckland on 3
January 1851.
Joseph Henry Laye was educated privately
and subsequently entered the Royal Military
College at Sandhurst. After his training there
he was commissioned on 20 July 1867 as an
Ensign in the 90th Foot (Light Division).
On 27 October 1871, Ensign J.H. Laye was
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In the
Army List for January 1875, which recorded
the 90th Foot as being stationed at Dover,
Lieutenant Joseph Henry Laye is listed as
Adjutant. He served in this appointment
from 24 April 1872 to 22 January 1878.
On examining the lists of other infantry
regiments, I noted that almost all Adjutants
at that time held the rank of Lieutenant. On
relinquishing the appointment of Adjutant,
he was promoted to Captain on 23 January
1878 and served throughout the Kaffir
War of 1877-78 and the Zulu War of 1879
with the 90th Foot. In these wars he was
mentioned in dispatches on two occasions,
on 1 April 1878 and on 30 March 1879. He
then saw service in India from 19 October
1879 to 22 April 1880, also with the 90th
Major General Joseph Henry Laye CB CVO, Deputy
Foot.
Adjutant General 1901
48
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