Henry Richard Abadie


Henry Richard Abadie was a British Army officer. He was GOC Eastern District at the end of the 19th century and the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey for four years thereafter.

Background

Abadie was born the son of Louis Pascal Abadie, who came from Chateau de Pellepoix in France. He was married firstly to Kate Sandeman and following her death in 1883, to Caroline, daughter of Colonel Fanshawe Gostling in 1890. His four sons with Kate Sandeman all died while in military service: two in Africa to disease and two during the First World War.

Military career

Abadie joined the army in 1858 and served in the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, where he was involved in the Battle of Magdala. He was made a captain 1872 and fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War including the Battle of Kandahar in 1879. He was with the 9th Lancers and commanded the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury from 1894 to 1897.
From 1899 to 1900, he commanded Eastern District, during which he was promoted to major-general and awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Jersey

Thereafter Abadie was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, a post he held until 1904. There is a painting of him in Derby at his regimental museum by John St Helier Lander, and artist whom he met while living in Jersey.