Medical Officers
Of the Malta Garrison
Benjamin Lane
1827 – 1907

No 288 Surgeon Benjamin Lane

Lic (1848) Lic Midwifery (1848) LRCP (Lond 1874)

5 June 1827 [Newtown Limavady Co. Derry] – 12 June 1907 [Cheltenham]

Brigade–Surgeon Benjamin Lane was the eldest son of Dr William Lane of Limavady County Derry. He entered the army in 1852 as an assistant surgeon and served in the Burmese War of 1852–53 with the 80th Foot.

Assistant Surgeon Lane was present at the attack on Tomboo, and gained distinction in the various operations in its vicinity. In November 1853, when the whole detachment at Tomboo was prostrate with fever, he devoted himself so wholeheartedly to the care of the sick that his assiduous attention to those under his care was singled out for particular commendation in General Orders by the Commander-in-Chief in India. He received a medal with clasp for Pegu.

In 1858, Surgeon Benjamin Lane participated in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. In the storm and stress of the Indian Mutiny his sterling worth and inherent capacity to deal with the most untoward emergencies gained for him the well-earned reputation of an able and energetic officer. On 5 March, 1858, his zeal and experience were utilised at the action on the banks of the Jumma, for which he received the medal.1

Service Record

8 May 1852 Appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon 80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot.

23 July 1852 Appointed Assistant Surgeon 80th Foot. Served with the regiment in the Burmese Wars of 1852–53. He was present at the attack on Tomboo, where he was in medical charge of a detachment debilitated with fever.
Assistant Surgeon Lane contracted yellow fever while on service in Burma.

His commission was antedated to 8 May 1852 but such antedate did not carry extra pay or allowances.

4 July 1856 Birth of a son William Arbuthnot Lane (1856–1943), at Fort George Inverness. He was the eldest of eight children. His mother was Caroline Arbuthnot Ewing, daughter of Deputy Inspector General John Ewing.

1857 Served in the Indian Mutiny.

19 Nov 1858 Exchanged with Staff Assistant Surgeon Isaac Hoysted, who became Assistant Surgeon 80th Regiment.

1858 – 1859 Served in London.

1860 Served in London and Colchester.

11 Sep 1860 Promoted Staff Surgeon.

18 Dec 1860 Surgeon 2nd/4th The King's Own Regiment, vice Surgeon Henry Fisher 4th Foot, who was placed upon half-pay. Fisher died shortly afterwards on 13 January 1861.
Surgeon Lane remained the regimental medical officer until June 1874 when he moved to the Staff at Woolwich.

Malta 4 June 1864 Arrived from Corfu.

Malta 1865 On duty with his regiment on the outbreak of cholera on 20 June 1865.
Recommended the removal of the battalion from Floriana Barracks to Citta Vecchia and St George's Bay.

Malta 26 Mar 1866 Left for Nova Scotia.

3 July 1872 Promoted Surgeon–Major 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment.

1879 Moved to Bengal from Woolwich.

1879 – 1882 On duty in Bengal.

21 Apr 1882 Left Bengal.

1882 – 1883 In Aberdeen.

5 June 1882 Retired with the honorary rank of Brigade–Surgeon.

12 June 1907 Died at his residence at No 19 Priory Street Cheltenham. On 15 June, a funeral service was held at St John's Church. His remains were interred in the family grave in Cheltenham Cemetery with those of his wife and son, by whom he was predeceased. He was survived by three daughters and one son, Sir William Arbuthnot Lane, surgeon to Guy's Hospital and to the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London.

Bibliography