William Galbraith

Major-General Sir William Galbraith (14 May 1837 – 15 October 1906) was a British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General in India.

Early life and education Galbraith was born in Ireland, the son of the Rev. John Galbraith, rector of Tuam, and his wife, Sarah. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He became assistant adjutant-general in Koorum District of India and, in that capacity, saw action at the Battle of Peiwar Kotal in November 1878 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He also took part in operations in the Hariab and Khost Valleys.

Personal life In 1896, he married Helen Mary Handcock, daughter of Lieutenant-General Arthur Gore Handcock, , with whom he had two sons, both born in British India. Their eldest son, Lieutenant Arthur Hugh Courtney Galbraith (1897–1918), was killed in action in the First World War. Their younger son, Major Ian William Galbraith (1899–1939), married Mary Florence Baker, daughter of Rear-Admiral Julian Alleyne Baker and sister of biologist John Randal Baker. They both drowned on 14 June 1939, when their canoe capsized in the Indus River near Gilgit, British India, where he was the Political Agent. Ian was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and the Albert Medal for Lifesaving in 1921.