As a lieutenant in the 11th Hussars, Henry Abadie fought in the Abyssinian Campaign of 1867-68. He was in the Transport train and was present at the battle at Arogee for which he was mentioned in despatches, and the capture of Magdala. In the Second Afghan War of 1879-80 he was a captain in the 9th Lancers but promoted to brevet Major. He fought at Takht-i-Pul for which he was again mentioned in despatches and the battle at Saif-u-doon. He was in the march from Kabul to Kandahar and fought at the battle there.
Henry Richard Abadie was born on 25 Mar 1841, the son of Louis Pascal Abadie who came from Château de Pellepoix in France. He joined the army in 1858 as a cornet in the 14th Light Dragoons (later Hussars) and exchanged to the 17th Lancers in 1860. His subsequent military service was in the 11th Hussars and the 9th Lancers. After a successful command of the 9th Lancers and later the Cavalry Depot he was promoted to major-general and given command of the Eastern District. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey and while there had his portrait painted by John St Helier Lander. The painting is now in the regimental museum in Derby.
Henry Abadie was married twice. First to Kate Sandeman, with whom he had four sons. She died in 1883, and in 1890 he married Caroline Gostling. His sons all served in the army, two dying of disease in Africa and two during WW1. One of his sons, Eustace Henry Egremont Abadie DSO, who joined the 9th Lancers in 1897, wrote of his experiences in the Boer War, published in 1989: A Soldier in South Africa: The Experiences of Eustace Abadie edited by S B Spies. Major-General Abadie died on 9 May 1915. His son George Abadie served in Nigeria where he died of malaria whilst serving as Lugard's Chief Political Officer.
The photo of Colonel Abadie in the dress uniform of the 9th Lancers, was published in the Navy and Army Illustrated on 1 Oct 1897. The caption described him as being a popular and successful commandant.
1858 Cornet 14th Light Dragoons 6 Aug
1860 Lieutenant 17th Lancers 18 Dec
1867 Lieutenant 11th Hussars
1872 Captain 14 Feb
1873 Captain 9th Lancers
1879 Brevet Major 22 Nov
1879 Major 22 Dec
1881 Lieutenant-Colonel 1 July
1884 Commanding the 9th Lancers 15 Dec
1885 Colonel 1 July
1891 Appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
1894 Commanded the Cavalry Depot until 1897
1897 Promoted to Major-General
1899 GOC commanding Eastern District
1900 Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
