Carole Divall

2nd Battalion: Gibraltar

There has been a slight decrease in the number of sick, but three privates have died in the past fortnight.

Lieutenant Machell arrived on the 11th August but was immediately appointed brigade major by Brigadier General Bowes.

Captains Malet and McNabb have been given one month’s leave by General Craddock, Masters, six months, and Adamson, indefinite for recovery of health.

John Watson, Thomas Smith, William Brewitt and William Haines have been appointed sergeant.  Two corporals have been reduced, George Burrows and Edward Lane, both on the 1st August.  In order to increase the number of NCOs, Patrick Mulholland, Joseph Jackson, William Weafer (Snr), William Ashby, John Edwards, James Doggett, John Dewsbury, Nicholas Brown, John Hopwell, James Joyce, Nathaniel Neale, Patrick Shearin, Thomas Hamilton, John Gould, John Morrisey, John Samuel and William Waters have all been promoted to corporal.

1st Battalion: Trichinopoly

Lieutenant Jones, having served his period of suspension, is now at Poonamallee.

Captain Chambers is absent with leave, preparatory to sailing to Europe.  Lieutenant Nicholson is also absent with leave on the coast for recovery of health.

The European officers placed under arrest by Colonel Wilkinson are on the march to Nagapatam, although any who have given their parole have permission to make their own way to Madras.   Wilkinson himself is visiting all the garrisons in the Southern Division to persuade all the European officers to sign the Governor’s document.

In the absence of some of the officers, under arrest, Captain Bircham and Lieutenant Napper of the 30th are doing duty with the 16th Native Infantry, while Lieutenants Cane and Lewin are doing duty with the 6th Native Cavalry, which has been placed under the command of Major Christopher Maxwell.

Depot: Wakefield

Three recruiting parties are now operating:at Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Captain Bamford and Lieutenant Sparks, with one sergeant, one drummer and five privates; at Dublin, Lieutenant Clarke and one sergeant; at Cambridge, Ensign Perry, with one sergeant, one drummer, one corporal and five privates.

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2nd Battalion: Gibraltar

Sickness continues to be a problem, as does the shortage of officers with the battalion.  The monthly return of the 25th July included two field officers and just ten company officers present.  Three are absent sick, four have yet to join, four are recruiting and one is on the staff in Portugal.  A bigger problem, though, is the ten officers who properly belong to the second battalion serving with the first in India.  The quartermaster, Kingsley, who returned to Kinsale to re-direct the heavy baggage to Gibraltar, was given leave of absence on the 24th July.

Among the NCOs, the only change was the reduction of Sergeant John Gould to the ranks on the 17th July.

1st Battalion: Trichinopoly

Whereas the second battalion are lacking ten officers, serving with the first, the first battalion have only three of their officers serving with the second, an imbalance which has characterised the two battalions since the senior battalion sailed to India in 1806.

Two officers have leave of absence: Lieutenant O’Brien, until he is “removed from the regiment”, having resigned; and Lieutenant Champion, who is travelling to Europe for recovery of health.

On the 25th July Captain Chambers and Lieutenant Nicholson were placed under arrest by Major Vaumorel.  This followed the meeting of the mess, which approved the two officers’ offer to resign.  This decision was passed on to Colonel Wilkinson who, as Commander of the Forces, dissolved the court which had been set up to try Nicholson.  Chambers and Nicholson were placed under an arrest until they signed their letters of resignation.

On the 27th July the Adjutant, Benjamin Nun, sent a letter of resignation to Nicholson for his signature but Nicholson refused to sign it until he received the promised recommendation which would make it possible for him to transfer into another regiment.  Chambers, however, signed without demur and seemed unconcerned about the recommendation.

Wilkinson still has to deal with the problem of the European officers serving with the East India Company.  The Governor, Sir Thomas Barlow, was insistent that they should sign a document promising their full obedience.  When Wilkinson presented them with this document on the 30th July, twenty signed but sixteen declined.  These sixteen were requested to sever all contact with their sepoys (whom it was suspected would come to their assistance).  When they refused, Wilkinson placed them under guard, using two hundred men of the 1/30th for the purpose.

Depot: Wakefield

With both battalions abroad, the regiment is to add two recruiting companies (in addition to the ten per battalion).  These will be distributed around England and Ireland, and supervised from headquarters in Wakefield.

PURCHASE, PAY AND PROMOTION – AN OFFICER’S TRINITY

From a 21^st century viewpoint, one of the strangest aspects of the British army during the Napoleonic period is the purchase system.  If we could listen in to an early 19^th century mess conversation, we would undoubtedly find that much of it was preoccupied with what might be described as the officer’s trinity – purchase, promotion and pay.  What might surprise us, however, would be the strength of feeling against the buying of commissions, and the effect it had on promotion. Continue Reading »