John Hunter Littler

Lieutenant-General Sir John Hunter Littler, KCB (6 January 178318 February 1856) was a British Army officer who spent most of his career serving in the Bengal Army. He was commissioned as an ensign of the Bengal Native Infantry at the age of 17 and sailed for India. He travelled aboard the East Indiaman Kent, which was captured by the French en route, and he had to make the final part of the voyage by pinnace. He served as a junior officer in the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the 1811 invasion of Java.

In 1841 Littler was promoted to major-general and given command of a division. He served in the 1843 Gwalior campaign, for which he received the thanks of the British parliament and appointment as Companion of the Order of the Bath. During the 1845–46 First Anglo-Sikh War he led a division at the Battle of Ferozeshah, once more receiving the thanks of parliament. Littler commanded the British occupational forces in the Sikh capital of Lahore after the war. In 1848 he joined the Supreme Council of India and was appointed deputy governor of Bengal and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He returned to England in 1851 and spent his final years in retirement in Buckfastleigh.

Early life John Hunter Littler was born in Tarvin, Cheshire, on 6 January 1783. He was the son of Thomas Littler, whose family had lived in the village for generations, and Diana, daughter of John Hunter, a director of the East India Company (EIC). John Littler was educated at the grammar school in Acton.

East India Company junior and field officer

Littler was appointed as an ensign in the EIC's Bengal Army on 19 August 1800, being posted to the 10th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. From 1843 Littler commanded the Bengal Army's Agra division. He commanded part of Sir Hugh Gough's army during the 1843 Gwalior campaign against the Marathas. At the 29 December Battle of Maharajpore, Littler had two horses shot from under him and was slightly wounded.

The 1845 outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War found him in command of a division of East India Company troops at Ferozepore. He left half his men to defend the post and marched with the rest to confront the Sikh Army as they crossed the Sutlej river on 11 December. The Sikhs refused to engage and moved to Ferozeshah. Littler joined his force with that of Gough and commanded a division of the army during the 21–22 December Battle of Ferozeshah. Littler had another horse shot from beneath him and, after victory, once more received a vote of thanks from the British parliament.

Later life and death

Littler returned to England in 1851. He spent the remainder of his life in retirement at his house, Bigaden, in Buckfastleigh, Devon. Littler died at Bigaden on 18 February 1856 and was buried at Tarvin.

Helen remarried, in 1858, to Thomas Aston Cokayne. She died on 12 January 1885.