Brevet Colonel Henry Stilles Foord was commissioned as a Lieutenant Fireworker, Madras Artillery, in June 1817 and saw active service in the Third Mahratta (Pindarry) War, commanding a Brigade of guns under Lieutenant-Colonel Agnew, C.B., at Ryepoor from December 1818 to April 1821. He became Captain in 1825, Major by Brevet in November 1841, and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1849.

On the formation of the Burma Expedition in early 1852, Foord was appointed Commander of Artillery, Madras Brigade, with D/2 M.A., D/3 M.A. and A/4 M.A. under his command. Reaching the mouth of the Salween with the rest of the Brigade in early April, he was struck down by sunstroke during the fighting for Rangoon on 12.4.1852, and had to be evacuated to India, but subsequently returned to Burma to take part in the capture of Prome on the Irrawaddy on 9 October. The List of Officers of the Madras Artillery states that Foord, who was repeatedly 'Mentioned' in official communiqués during Second Burma Campaign, died at Secunderabad on 4.11.1857, aged 50 years.