Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Malcolm, George
MALCOLM, Sir GEORGE (1818–1897), general, born at Bombay on 10 Sept. 1818, was the only son of David Malcolm, a Bombay merchant, who was the brother of Admiral Sir Pulteney and General Sir John Malcolm [q. v.] He was commissioned as ensign in the E.I.C. service on 10 June 1836, and was posted to the 1st Bombay native infantry on 18 July 1837. He served in the Afghan war of 1839 as deputy-assistant commissary-general and baggagemaster with the Bombay division, and was present at the capture of Ghazni and occupation of Kabul. In August 1840, at the head of a detachment of Sind horse, he joined the force sent under Major Clibborn to relieve Kahan in Baluchistan, took part in the attempt to force the Nafusk pass, and was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry. He was also engaged in the operations against Nusseer Khan and the Brahoes and the capture of their camp near Kanda on 1 Dec. He received the medal.
He became lieutenant on 31 Aug. 1840. He served under Colonel John Jacob [q. v.] during the subjugation of Sind, and was present at the battle of Shadadpur and the capture of Shahpur. In the second Sikh war he commanded the 2nd Sind horse, and was present at the siege of Multan and the battle of Gujrat. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, 19 April 1849), received the medal, and on becoming captain in his regiment (1st Bombay native infantry) he was given a brevet majority on 22 June 1849. He became lieutenant-colonel on 28 Nov. 1854.
He served in the Persian war of 1856-7, and commanded a small field force during the Indian mutiny. On 29 Nov. 1857 he stormed the fortified village of Halgalli. He took possession of Shorapur on 9 Feb. 1858, and on 2 June he captured the fort of Nargund, the strongest in the South Maratha country. He was mentioned in despatches, received the medal, and was made C.B. on 21 March 1859. He became colonel in the army on 30 Aug. 1860, and major-general on 15 Dec. 1867. In the expedition to Abyssinia in 1868 he commanded the second division, which guarded the line of communications. He was included in the vote of thanks of parliament, was made K.C.B. on 14 Aug. 1868, and received the medal. He was promoted lieutenant-general on 29 May 1875, and general on 1 Oct. 1877, and was placed on the unemployed supernumerary list on 1 July 1881. He received the G.C.B. on 29 May 1886.
He died at Leamington on 6 April 1897. On 19 Oct. 1852 he married Wilhelmina Charlotte, youngest daughter of the Rev. Henry Alright Hughes. She survived him. In 1868 he printed for private circulation at Karachi 'Remarks on the Indian Army' (eighteen pages), in which he dwelt on the danger of relying on European troops and of neglecting and discrediting the native army, as had been the tendency since the mutiny.
[Times, 7 April 1897; Stocqueler's Memorials of Afghanistan, pp. 112-21; Malleson's Indian Mutiny, iii. 126, &c.; Burke's Landed Grentry; Official Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia.]