Carole Divall

2nd Battalion: Gibraltar

A ship typical of the transports used for troops.

Orders arrived at the beginning of the month for the battalion to sail to Cadiz, to join the defence against the besieging 1st French Corps under Marshal Victor.  The first detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Minet, embarked on the 10th May.  The second detachment has yet to embark.

Four men have joined from England in time to join the expedition to Cadiz and two men have been invalided home.

1st Battalion: Trichinopoly

Prisoner, with escort, stands accused at a court martial

Assistant Surgeon Griffin is under sentence of a court martial, having been found guilty of  “at night armed and using insulting language to a magistrate”.  The sentence was that Assistant Surgeon Griffin be cashiered but the court made a strong recommendation that he should be pardoned.

Four other officers of the battalion still await trial.  Lieutenant French is accused of sending a challenge and fighting a duel with Lieutenant Carden, who is himself accused of accepting a challenge and fighting a duel.  Lieutenant Harpur is charged with aiding and betting a duel, and Lieutenant Jones, with carrying a message (the challenge) and aiding a duel.  If found guilty, all four men are likely to be cashiered.

There have been four deaths in the past two weeks, Sergeant Lavery and Privates Wall, Lovell and Darby.

Sergeant Joseph Humphries has been appointed receiving sergeant at Poonamallee, with responsibility for supervising invalids awaiting transport to Europe, and receiving new men who need to be directed to their respective regiments.

Several officers have been removed “without leave” from the 2nd to the 1st battalion, and are now listed as absent without leave in the returns.

Depot: Wakefield

The ranks of the 33rd Regiment receive instruction from their sergeant

(for more information see: http://www.33rdfoot.co.uk)

Three recruits, two men and a boy, have joined from the recruiting parties.  There have been two other additions, a volunteer from the Irish Miltia and a returned deserter.

Elsewhere, the recruiting parties continue to operate with some success, and 12 men and 2 boys are on their way to headquarters.

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Sir Thomas Graham, an 1800 portrait by Hoppner. Continue Reading »

2nd Battalion: Gibraltar

Castle of Santa Catalina, Tarifa

The detachment which sailed to Tarifa has arrived there but no news has reached Gibraltar of any military activity.  The French seem to have resisted the temptation to deal with this diversionary incursion into territory which they regard as their own.

Four officers are absent from the battalion, apart from those on detached staff duties.  Major Hamilton (along with Lieutenant and Adjutant William Stewart) is absent with leave, while Major Grey is still returned as absent without leave, as is Lieutenant Masters.

Four recruits joined from England today, although the battalion still feels itself to be understrength, and would welcome further reinforcements, particularly now there is a general expectation that they will soon be sailing to Cadiz, where they could find themselves going into action against the French.

On the 27th April Privates Farrell, Simpson and Woodhouse were sent to England, on the first stage of their journey to Australia, where they will serve for life. (See earlier diary entries for details of their offences and subsequent court martial.)

1st Battalion: Trichinopoly

Assistant Surgeon Griffin has been suspended from rank and pay, having been found guilty by a court martial of breaking into a magistrate’s house while drunk.

Four other officers, Lieutenants Harpur, Jones, French and Carden, are under an arrest, accused of being involved in a duel, which is potentially a cashiering offence.

Corpoal Roger Law has been reduced to the ranks and was returned as a prisoner in the muster on the 25th April, as were Drummer Thomas Brennan and three privates.

Private John Hanks died on the 20th April

Depot: Wakefield

The 33rd Regiment recruiting, early 19th Century

Ten recruits (eight men and two boys) are reported to have enlisted for unlimited service, but have not yet joined at the depot.  Seven of these recruits are with the recruiting party in Enniscorthy, three in Edinburgh, and one in Sleaford.

Lieutenant Stephen Masters, reported as absent without leave by the second battalion, is returned by the depot as with the recruiting party in Cambridge.

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