Michael T Tracy

Lieutenant George Buist (1807-1842) of the 10th Bengal Light Calvary Michael T Tracy

George Buist spent most of his short life in the Bengal Army. He was the first born son of the esteemed Reverend Doctor George Buist, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of St. Andrews. The Bengal Army was the army of the Bengal Presidency, one of the three Presidencies of the British Raj within the British Empire. The Presidency armies belonged to the East India Company and Buist was well suited for a life in the military. After his cadet training in 1827-29, he first arrived at Bombay, India in 1829. Later, he would fall in love with Captain Thomas Mason's daughter Isabella while stationed at Dum Dum, Calcutta and later quickly marry her. The couple would have four children who were all born in India. Later this dashing young officer would be assigned to the 10th Light Calvary and received his commission as a Lieutenant in 1836. Lieutenant Buist and the 10th Bengal Light Calvary were ordered to invade Afghanistan and in December of 1838 set out from Punjab. This invasion became known as the First Anglo-Afghan War. He would eventually be stationed at Camp Jellalabad, Afghanistan where he would meet his eventual fate. This then is a tribute to the life and times of George Buist, a Lieutenant in the 10th Bengal Light Calvary.