John Alfred Street

General John Alfred Street, CB (1822 – 5 December 1889) was a British Army officer who was the 25th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon.

He joined the British Army as an ensign in 1839, became Lieutenant (by purchase) in 1841 and was promoted to captain in 1848. In 1842 he served in China with the 98th Foot during the First Opium War where he was present at the attack and capture of Chin Kiang Foo and at the Nanking landing.[1]

In 1854 he was posted to Crimea as Brigade-Major of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division and was present at the battles of Balaklava, Inkerman and the Siege of Sebastopol. For his services he was awarded medal with three clasps, brevet of major, CB, Sardinian and Turkish medals and 4th class of the Medjidie.

Back in England he was commandant of the 10th Depot Battalion in Colchester before being appointed general officer commanding, Ceylon in 1874. He was succeeded there by William Wilby in 1879.

In 1882 he was given the colonelcy of the 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), which he held until his death. He was made full general on 23 October 1883. [2]

He died at his home in Woking in 1889. He had married twice; firstly Sophia, the daughter of Rev. James Holroyd of Whitehall, Colchester (who died in Colombo) and secondly Caroline, the daughter of Charles Hosfall Bill of The Priory, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. He left two daughters and a son. His eldest daughter Sophia married Lord Gifford, V.C.