Colonel Cleland commanded the regiment in the Second Afghan War and was wounded in action on 11 Dec 1879 at Killa Kazi near Kabul. He died on 7 August at Murree.
Robert Stewart Cleland was born in Ireland on 24 June 1840. He was the son of Samuel Jackson Cleland of Stormont Castle, Dundonald, Co. Down. His mother was Eliza, daughter of James Joyce of Thornhill.
He went to RMC Sandhurst and was commissioned into the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1857. In 1860 he exchanged to the 9th Lancers and commanded them from 27 June 1879 until 7 August 1880 when he died. He commanded the regiment in Afghanistan in the War of 1879-1880. He led a charge at Killa Kazi on 11 Dec 1879 and was dangerously wounded in two places; a sword cut to his elbow joint shattered the bones, and a bullet wound in the side. He was laid up for several months and finally succumbed on 7 August 1880. He was buried in the cemetery at Murree and a memorial was erected ‘by his sorrowing mother’.
1857 Cornet 7th Dragoon Guards 7 July
1859 Lieutenant 8 April
1860 Exchanged to the 9th Lancers
1864 Captain 9 Aug
1877 Brevet Major 1 Oct
1878 Major 16 Feb
1879 Lieutenant-Colonel 27 June
1879 Wounded in action 11 Dec
1880 Died of wounds at Murree. 7 August
