 Ramba uchiverenga ndima ino - Lonsdale akaberekerwa muDen Helder, Batavian Republic, munguva yokurwisa kweBritain kwakakundikanakudzorera muchinda akadonhedzwa William weOrange. Baba vake, Lieutenant James Lonsdale, vakanga vaine mudzimai wake Jane née Faunce. William pazera remakore makumi maviri akabatana nababa vake vekare, Kings Own 4th Regiment of the Foot, semutungamiri musi wa 8 Chikunguru 1819. Akakurumidza kubatana nomunununa wake,. William uye vakashanda neRegiment yavo muWest Indies uye musi wa4 Kurume 1824 William akasimudzirwa kuva Lieutenant uye akagadzwa kuva Adjutant. Akadzokera kuEngland uye akatumirwa kuPortugal. Pakazosvika 1830 akanga adzokera kuEngland uye musi wa20 Kurume 1831 Regiment yake yakatumirwa kuColony yeNew South Wales kunobvisa 39th Regiment. Aifanira kuva mutarisiri wekoloni pamwe chete nebasa rake somurwi. 