The directory «Plots»

Goldie Thomas Leigh
(1807—1854)

Thomas Leigh Goldie was the second son of General Goldie and Isabella Christian Taubman, of the Nunnery, where he was born. Till 1825, when he joined the 66th Regiment, he lived in the island. After attaining the rank of major in that regiment, he acted as military and private secretary to Sir John Colborne, afterwards Lord Seaton. He saw no active service till 1839, when he went with his regiment to Canada to assist in quelling the disturbances there. For the ability and zeal he displayed at that time he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 57th Regiment. His next service was in the Crimea, where he commanded a brigade, at the head of which he fell fighting at the Battle of Inkermann on the 5th November, 1854. He was interred at Cathcart's Hill, near Sebastopol, where there is a monument to his memory. A large monument in the Nunnery Grounds, and a tablet in Malew Church, with the same object, were erected by public subscription. On the tablet are the following words :-" After repeated charges at the head of his Brigade of the 4th Division [he] . . fell mortally wounded and a few hours after departed this life." Lord Raglan, in the despatch announcing the result of the Battle of Inkermann, speaks of him as "an officer of considerable promise," who " gave great satisfaction to all whom he has served ;" and the " Manx Sun," in an obituary notice states that " he was remarkable alike for the strict performance of his own duties to the minutest item, and for his equally strict enforcement of the duties of those under him, but that without the needless severity of the martinet," and that " this in no way diminished his personal popularity, which was very great."

Isle of Man, 2000, Thomas Leigh Goldie and Earl of Cardigan