Captain (Acting Major) William Henry Degacher of the 1st Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.

William Henry Degacher was born on 4 April 1841. The son of Walter Henry Degacher.

Captain William Degacher was educated at Saint-Omer, France and Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, England, and at Imperial College,
London.

He was commissioned on 31 May 1859 as an ensign, in the 24th Regiment. Promoted lieutenant on 19 August 1862. He saw his first active service
during the Ninth Cape Frontier War of 1877. At the time of the Anglo-Zulu War, Degacher was acting major in the 1st Battalion, 24th Foot. He was killed in action on 22 January 1879 at age 37 in Zululand at the disastrous Battle of Isandlwana during the opening stages of the Anglo-Zulu War.

His older brother Henry James was a lieutenant colonel in the 2nd Battalion of the 24th at the time of the Anglo-Zulu War.

He married Julia Caroline Webber Smith, the daughter of Major-General James Webber Smith, C.B.

It is an interesting genealogical side note that Degacher was actor David Niven's maternal grandfather.

Carte de Visite sized mounted Photograph
Unknown  Photographer/Copiest
Original Photograph c. 1877.  Copied c. 1880