Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Rutherfurd (1801-1856), 11th Bengal Native Infantry, 1856 (c)

Miniature silhouette in watercolour on card, artist unknown, 1856 (c). Unframed.

Walter Rutherfurd joined the army as a cadet in 1819 and was posted an ensign to the 1st Battalion 14th Bengal Native Infantry. He commanded the military escort for the visit of noted Scottish Colonial Administrator, John Crawfurd, to Siam and Cochin-China in 1821. Transferring to the 28th Native Infantry in May 1824, Rutherfurd saw action in the Arakan in the First Burma War and was appointed Adjutant of his unit in July 1825. He commanded the 28th Native Infantry with the rank of major in December 1841, but became Officiating Assistant Secretary to the Government Military Department in Bengal in 1842. He was appointed to the command of the 11th Native Infantry in 1854 and died in Allahabad in 1856.