Lieutenant-Colonel William Cabell was born in the Parish of St. Mary Newington, Surrey in October 1831 and nominated for a Cadetship in the Bengal Infantry in early 1850. Posted as an Ensign to the 33rd Native Infantry at the end of that year, he swiftly transferred to the 62nd N.I. and was advanced to Lieutenant in May 1855. By 1859 he was the Officiating Superintendent of Suddur Bazaar, Mooltan and in June 1862 he was advanced to Captain. Cabell is verified as having participated in the Bhootan operations of 1864-66, while attached to the 31st Punjab Infantry, in addition to the Abyssinia operations of 1867-68, when he served as a 'Subaltern of a Division of the Land Transport Train'. Promoted to Major in late 1870, on the eve of taking up appointment as Depot Commander of the 4th Gurkhas, he proceeded home some four years later and gained advancement to Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1876. Cabell was placed on the Retired List in August 1878 and died in March 1905.