Dictionary of Indian Biography/Becher, John Reid
BECHER, JOHN REID (1819–1884)
General: son of Colonel John Becher, of the Bengal Cavalry: born 1819: educated at Bruce Castle, Tunbridge Wells, and Addiscombe: went to India in the Bengal Engineers in 1839: from Firozpur with Wild's Brigade, to relieve Ali Masjid in Jan. 1842, and on with General Pollock's advance to Kabul: in Satlaj campaign, at Sobraon, Feb. 10, 1846, severely wounded: engaged in Rajputana boundary settlements, 1847, and on land inquiries in the Panjab: Deputy Secretary to the Panjab Board of Administration: Deputy Commissioner of Hazara, 1853–9: C.B: in Sydney Cotton's expedition of 1858 against the Sitana fanatics: Commissioner of the Derajat, 1862: and of Peshawar, 1864: retired in 1866: died July 9, 1884: one of the distinguished group of officers employed in the Panjab under the Lawrences in the early days after its annexation in 1849: "of all prominent Panjab officials there was certainly none more loved and respected than Becher."