Carole Divall

2nd. Battalion: Cadiz

An important departure occurred on the 3rd August when Regimental Sergeant Major David Glass transferred into the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion with the rank of ensign.  This is generally considered a fitting reward for a man who has given such long and loyal service to the regiment, but it is also acknowledged that he will be sadly missed.  His influence on the second battalion 30th Regiment upon its formation in 1803 is felt to be immeasurable and it is believed that his commission was granted at the request of the senior officers of the battalion..

On the 4th August Sergeant James Wood was appointed RSM.

Sergeant Davison was reduced on the 8th August.

News has arrived that Assistant Surgeon Edward Purdon has been promoted to Surgeon into the 8th Royal Veteran Battalion, which means there is a vacancy for an assistant surgeon.

Lieutenant Holt, who is serving with the 1st battalion in India but properly belongs to the second battalion, has exchanged into the 84th with Lieutenant Winrow, who is also thought to be in India.

1st. Battalion: Trichinopoly

The major event for the battalion was the inspection carried out on 6th August by General Wilkinson, commander of the Southern Division in India.  Until his promotion to the general list, Wilkinson saw all his service with the 30th and obviously knows the regiment well.

The data produced for the inspection established the essentially English composition of the battalion: 868 NCOs and privates are English, against 54 Scots and 141 Irish.  There are also four foreigners.  Most of the battalion are aged over 25 and have served for more than five years.  It is a cause of frustration that their experience is not being used.  The data also revealed that there have been thirty deaths since December 1809, one discharge and one desertion.  Sixteen invalids have been sent to Europe.  Five recruits have joined.  The battalion now awaits General Wilkinson’s report.

There are two prisoners in the guard room awaiting regimental court martial.

There have been three deaths since the beginning of the month, Sergeant James Kellen on the 1st, Robert McGuire on the 4th and Robert Boyles on the 5th.

The officers were saddened by the news that Lieutenant Todd, who embarked of the Duchess of Gordon, Indiaman, in January to return to Europe for recovery of his health, was lost at sea.

Depot: Wakefield

Four men have joined for unlimited service and two for limited service.  Another man has returned to headquarters from desertion.

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2nd Battalion: Cadiz

The situation remains stalemate as the French, despite their success in taking the fort at Matagorda, have still not developed a strategy which would enable them to take Cadiz, while the defending forces are focusing on holding their position in a no-risk policy.

On the 25th July, the battalion took the opportunity to promote six men to corporal in order to have a full complement at this rank: James Hollinghurst, Thomas Kelly, David McBride, Owen Price, George Watts and John Wilson.  On the same day, for the purpose of the monthly return, the strength of the battalion was recorded as 43 sergeants, 21 drummers, 635 rank and file, and thirteen boys,

Corporal Thomas Hamilton was reduced for misconduct on the 29th July.  Two days later Sergeant Maguire returned to England for recovery of health.

There were two additions to the strength at end of the month: one man joined from Gibraltar, having been left there sick, and a volunteer from the militia arrived as part of a mixed detachment.

William Blackburn, a former sergeant, also returned after an extended period of desertion.

1st Battalion: Trichinopoly

There have been three deaths in the past two weeks, two of them sergeants: Isaac Randall, who died on the 18th July, and Joseph Lonnergan, on the 26th.  The third death was Isaac Congreve on the 28th July.

Corporals Thomas Bird and William Carter were both reduced to the ranks on the 22nd July.

The battalion is now preparing for an inspection which will take place in a week’s time,

Depot: Wakefield

There has been a pleasing influx of recruits, including 8 who have arrived at headquarters: 2 men for limited service and 5 men and a boy for unlimited service.  A further 12 recruits are still with the recruiting parties.

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