READER, HENRY ELMHIRST (1826-85) was born at Naples, and entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst about 1843, receiving his commission in the 39th Regiment. Exchanging into the 14th Light Dragoons, of which he was for five years adjutant, he saw much service in India. In 1848 he participated in the pursuit of the Sikh army until its surrender at Rawalpindi. Reader then returned to England (1855) and, exchanging into the 12th Lancers, served in the Crimea, mostly in command of a troop. He received the Crimea and Turkish medals, but declined to wear them as he was never under fire. Back in England in 1856, the regiment was ordered at once to Madras, and had marched almost to Bangalore when it was diverted to Bombay and fought with Whitlock's column to Hyderabad. In 1860 Reader returned to England. Two years later he sold out and, coming to Canterbury late in 1863, took up the Teviotdale station. Owing to trouble with scab, he abandoned it three years later. In June 1867 he was appointed to command the Canterbury militia and volunteers, and six months later was transferred to Wellington. In Jan 1878 he was acting Under-secretary for Defence (confirmed in Mar 1879) and in Dec 1879 he was appointed also commissioner of Armed Constabulary. These posts he held at the time of his death (29 Sep 1885).

Acland; N.Z. Times, 30 Sep 1885; Lyttelton Times, 7 Oct.

Reference: Volume 2, page 106

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