British Garrison Cemetery Kandy

Charles Carmichael the Caretaker

Charles Carmichael the Caretaker

• No.66 John Spottiswood Robertson, b. 1823 d. 1856. A table tomb.The seventh and last recorded death of a European in Ceylon killed by wild elephants. 

• No.90Lieut.-General John Fraser, aged 72 years. A table tomb.Best known for his satinwood bridge, which spanned the Mahaweli Ganga at Peradeniya. This graceful single arch with a span of 205 ft. was in use from 1833 to 1905. It was built with not a single nail or bolt. He was also renowned as a road builder and cartographer, apart from being a strict disciplinarian.

•  No. 43Eliza Ann Philpotts, raised tomb with side inscribed tablet.This tomb was badly damaged by a tree growing through it, and had to be dismantled before restoration work. 

• No. 11Sir John D'Oyly, b. 1774 d. 1824, Fluted column with marble tablet.He represented the British Government at the 1815 Convention whereat the Kingdom of Kandy was annexed to the British Crown. Fluent in Sinhala, he acquired great influence over the local population. A set of verses was addressed to him by Ganjaman Nona, the Matara poetess. 
• No. 101William Robert Lyte, b. 1846 d. 1865.Grandson of the Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, author of the hymn "Abide with me" 

• No. 88David Findlay, b. 1823 d. 1861. A fine granite headstone with carved Grecian urn.Findlay was killed when the Mullegodde (sic) House, owned at the time by Advocate J. A. Dunuwille, collapsed on him. 

• No. 114Henry Mackenzie, b. 1841 d. 1869.This headstone has been badly broken and now lies flat. Nine randomly drilled holes for embellishments can be seen, the significance of which is not known. Any assistance would be most welcome.

•  No. 123Lady Elizabeth Gregory, b. 1817 d. 1873. Carved granite raised tomb with iron railing surround including a small visiting gate.She was the wife of the Rt. Hon. William Henry Gregory, Governor of Ceylon 1872 - 1877.

•  No. 1Captain James McGlashan, b. 1791 d. 1817. This tombstone was brought to the cemetery in the late 1880's from Lady Longden's Drive. Distinguished himself at the Battle of Busaco, Albuera and Waterloo. With reckless disregard of precautions he walked from Trincomalee, drenched with rain, wading, sitting and even sleeping in saturated clothing; not surprisingly he was seized with violent fever and accepted his end with manly fortitude.

•  No. 117William Charles MacReady, b. 1832 d. 1871.Son of the celebrated actor William, known to Charles Dickens, W.C.M. held many civil servant positions. In 1865 he published a translation of the Sinhalese poem "Sela Lihini Sandese: the Sela's message, with Notes and Glossary, for the use of Students" by Sir Rahula of Totagamuwa.

•  No. 110William Watson Mackwood, b. 1847 d. 1867.Alighting from his horse, he was transfixed by a stake placed to mark out the ground. 

• No. 68Oteline Rudd, b. 1829 d. 1867. A table tomb.Her husband, Billy, was one of the first planters to be sold up in the 1847-48 coffee crisis, losing thousands of acres originally worth many thousands of Pounds, for a few hundred paltry Rupees. He was reduced from living in princely state to not even owning the chair on which he sat.

•  No. ???G. & M. WaitA small Memorial stone for their five infant sons. 

• No. 135Henry Thompson, P.M., P.Z., b. 1831 d. 1881. A carved granite raised tomb."Erected by his Masonic Friends in Ceylon".

•  No. ???Marcella Stewart b. 1806 d. 1830. All the above-ground bricks were missing, and the side tablet was found buried face down during restoration work. This whole grave has been remade with old bricks by one of our masons using a degree of licence in the absence of records.

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