Birthplace:
- Gibraltar
Birthdate:
- 15 December 1829
Nationality:
- Irish
Height:
- 5 feet 8 inches
Family Background:
- Warren's father was Serjeant Warren, Queen's Counsel, Ireland
At Sandhurst:
- No
Foreign Languages:
- French
Career before Halifax:
- Ensign, 82nd Foot, 2 February 1849 (purchase)
- Lieutenant, 5 November 1852 (purchase)
- Captain, 20 July 1855 (purchase)
- to 78th Highlanders by exchange, 26 February 1859
- Major, 13 July 1867 (non-purchase)
Medals & Awards:
- Medal and clasp (Crimea)
- Turkish medal
- Medal and clasp (Indian Mutiny)
Postings while in NS Command:
- Halifax, 9 May 1869 to 9 July 1869
- Saint John, NB, 10 July 1869 to 19 August 1870
- Halifax, 20 August 1870 to 25 November 1871
Married:
- Emily Smith, British Embassy, Paris, 20 August 1862
Children:
- Adele Augusta Elizabeth (b. Aberdeen, 28 May 1863)
- Augustus Richard Charles (b. London, 29 May 1864)
- Ernest Henry Edmund (b. London, 21 June 1865)
- Robert Monsell (b. London, 10 May 1868)
- Charles Dryden Stewart (b. Saint John, NB, 30 May 1870)
- Guy Cecil Webber (b. London, 31 December 1871)
Career after Halifax:
- Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 23 July 1876
- Lieutenant Colonel, 27 March 1878
- Colonel, 1 July 1881
- Major General (retired), 1 April 1887
Warren's father, Serjeant Warren, a Queen's Counsel in Dublin, Ireland, was described in correspondence which accompanied his son's application for a first commission in the army, as "distinguished" and "eminent". Augustus purchased his ensigncy in the 82nd Prince of Wales Volunteers in February 1849, and he served with this regiment at the siege of Sebastopol in the Crimea, for which he had a Crimean medal and clasp, and the Turkish medal. Later he served with the 82nd in the Indian Mutiny, where he was present at Sir Colin Campbell's second relief of Lucknow, and at numerous other actions. For this latter campaign he held an Indian Mutiny medal and clasp.
A couple of months after the 78th arrived in Halifax Major Warren was sent to command the detachment stationed in Saint John, New Brunswick, where he remained for over a year. Thereafter, he was replaced by Major Feilden, who stayed until the 78th detachment at Saint John began to be withdrawn in May 1871.
With Major Warren in Saint John, and later Halifax, were his wife and children. A fifth child was born to the Warrens at Saint John on 20 June 1870. Major and Mrs. Warren were enthusiastic amateur singers, and their not inconsiderable talents contributed to the success of a number of public musical events in both Saint John and Halifax (as they had earlier in Montreal and Quebec). Of a concert held at the Mechanic's Institute in Saint John on the evening of 7 December 1869, at which Mrs. Warren sang the ballads "Do not Forget Me" and "I love the Night", and Major Warren "The Lark now leaves his wat'ry nest", the local newspaper commented:
The lady possesses a clear rich contralto voice, which she has in perfect control, and with a clear and distinct enunciation is able to express every sentiment and emotion. Moreover she throws her whole soul into the music, and the fervent manner and at times a certain touch of masculinity - if we may be allowed the expression - in tone causes the attention and compels admiration. Major Warren [sang] with very good force and expression, but it is a voice which tells much better when associated with another than entirely alone.
After leaving Halifax Warren went on to succeed Mackenzie as the 78th's commanding officer, and to lead it in an expedition into Afghanistan in 1880. He retired to half pay in March 1883, and became a major general on half pay in April 1887.
