PART III.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES
AT WATERLOO WHO SUBSEQUENTLY
RECEIVED COMMISSIONS.
1st Life Guards.
Corporal-Major Robert Falconer.
Appointed quartermaster same regt. 2nd Sept., 1836. H. p. 1847. D. Apr., 1849.
2nd Life Guards.
John Ellington.
Appointed quartermaster 19th June, 1815.
Royal Horse Guards.
Corporal-Major Andrew Heartley.
Served in the Pa. Appointed quartermaster 12th Dec., 1822. H. p. 1831. D. Feb. 1861 as a Military Knight of Windsor.
Carter Fairbrother.
Appointed quartermaster 7th Nov., 1829. D. Feb., 1852.
John Frost.
Appointed quartermaster 31st May, 1828. D. Apr., 1852.
Wm. Emmett.
Appointed quartermaster 25th Sept., 1828. H. p. 1831.
1st Dragoon Guards.
Sergt.-Major Richard Hollis.
Appointed adjt. to above regt, 8th July, 1836. Lieut. 12th Jan., 1838. Lieut, Rl. Canadian Rifles 24th Oct., 1845. D. in Canada as a retd. capt. in 1856.
1st Dragoons.
This brave soldier was promoted sergt. in the 1st Dns., and aftds. Ensign in the 6th West India Regt. (commission dated 11th April, 1816), for the gallantry he displayed at Waterloo, in helping Capt. Clark of the same regt. to capture the Eagle of the 105th French Regt. The following letter, copied from the original in the United Service Museum, throws additional light on the above exploit:—
Ipswich Barracks, 31st Jan., 1816.
Sir,—This day Col. Clifton sent for me about the taking the Eagle and colours. He asked me if I had any person that see me take the Eagle; I told him that you see me, I believe, as the officer of the French was making away with it. I belonged to your troop at that time, and you gave me orders to charge him, which I did, and took it from him. When I stated it to him this day he wants to know the particulars about it, and me to rite to you for you to state to him how it was. I would thank you to rite to the Colonel, as you was the nearest officer to me that day. Sir, by so doing you will much oblige,—Your most obedient humble servant,
Francis Stiles,
Sergt. 1st Royal Drag.
To Lt. Gunning, 1st Dragoons,
Cheltenham, Glostershire.
Ensign Stiles was placed on h. p., 28th Dec., 1817, and d. in London, 9th Jan., 1828.
John Smith.
Appointed cornet and adjt. 26th Oct., 1815. Left the regt. in 1829.
John Partridge.
Appointed quartermaster in above regt. 18th July, 1834. H. p. 1849. Hon. capt. 1 t July, 1859. D. in Aug., 1863.
2nd Dragoons.
[1] Sergt.-Maj. Wm. Crawford.
[2] Sergt. Charles Ewart.
[1]. Promoted cornet and adjt. same regt., 17th Aug., 1815. Lt. 25th June, 1819. Paymaster, 24th March, 1829. Held this appointment for 20 years. H. p. 1849. Living in 1855.
[2]. Captured the Eagle of the 45th French Regt. at Waterloo. This daring act won the admiration of the whole British Army. Ewart was rewarded with an ensigncy in the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion, 22nd Feb., 1816, and on the reduction of this regt. in 1821 he recd. a retiring pens. of 5s. 10d. per day. He was a native of Kilmarnock. D. at Davyhulme, near Manchester, 17th March, 1846. The Edinburgh Advertiser for 21st June, 1816, has the following:—
“Extract of a letter from Sergt. Ewart, of the Scots Greys, dated Rouen, 16th Aug., 1815:—
“The enemy began forming their line of battle about nine in the morning of the 18th. They came down to the left, where they were received by our brave Highlanders. No men could ever behave better; our brigade of cavalry covered them. Owing to a column of foreign troops giving way, our brigade was forced to advance to the support of our brave fellows, and which we certainly did in style; we charged through two of their columns, each about 500. It was in the first charge I took the Eagle from the enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he thrust for my groin—I parried it off, and I cut him through the head; after which I was attacked by one of their Lancers, who threw his lance at me, but missed the mark by my throwing it off with my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which cut went through his teeth. Next I was attacked by a foot soldier, who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet; but he very soon lost the combat, for I parried it, and cut him down through the head; so that finished the contest for the Eagle. After which I presumed to follow my comrades, Eagle and all, but was stopped by the General saying to me, ‘You brave fellow, take that to the rear; you have done enough until you get quit of it,’ which I was obliged to do, but with great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards of an hour, which gave me a general view of the field, but I cannot express the sight I beheld; the bodies of my brave comrades were lying so thick upon the field that it was scarcely possible to pass, and horses innumerable. I took the Eagle into Brussels, amidst the acclamation of thousands of the spectators that saw it.”
On 18th June, 1816, Ensign Ewart, and other Waterloo officers, were entertained at a public banquet in Edinburgh. “Nearly 400 noblemen and gentlemen sat down to an elegant dinner in the Assembly Rooms, the Rt. Hon. Wm. Arbuthnot, Lord Provost of the city, in the chair. After several toasts had been given and duly honoured, Sir Walter (then Mr.) Scott proposed a bumper to the health of Ensign Ewart, late of the Scots Greys, whose bravery was conspicuous where he took a French Eagle, and killed with his own hand three of Napoleon’s guard. The toast was drank with great acclamation, and a general expectation prevailed that Ensign Ewart, who was present, would address the company. After a short pause, the Lord Provost rose, and, at the request of Mr. Ewart, stated how much he felt honoured by this mark of the company’s approbation, but that he would much rather fight the battle over again and take another Eagle, than make a speech.”
6th Dragoons.
F. McDowell.
Appointed quartermaster 10th Dec., 1829. H. p. 1843. D. in June, 1846.
Thos. Boyd.
Appointed adjt. 19th Oct., 1815. Lieut. 18th June, 1819. Out of the regt. in 1840.
7th Hussars.
Troop Sergt. Maj. Thos. Jeffs.
Promoted cornet and adjt. same regt., 7th March, 1816, for gallantry at Waterloo. Lt. 4th March, 1819. H. p. unattached, 14th June, 1827. Living 1830.
Sergt.-Major Samuel Brodribb.
Appointed quartermaster 15th Jan., 1829. Quartermaster 14th Lt. Dns. 24th Apr., 1838. D. 1846.
Thos. Blackier.
Appointed quartermaster 16th Sept., 1819. H. p. 1839. D. 1841.
10th Hussars.
Fred Kinkie.
Appointed quartermaster 19th Lt. Dns. 1st July, 1824. H. p. 18th Aug., 1825. D. in Nov., 1863.
11th Light Dragoons.
Sergt.-Maj. G. Butcher.
Appointed adjt. 12th Oct., 1815. Lieut. 8th Nov., 1818. Capt. 13th Nov., 1834. Retd. 1837.
Sergt. Robt. Bambrick.
Lieut. 12th Oct., 1825. Capt. 7th D.G. 25th Feb., 1843. K. in action at the Cape in Apr., 1846.
12th Light Dragoons.
Sergt.-Maj. John Carruthers.
Promoted cornet in same regt., 26th Oct., 1815. H. p. 25th Dec., 1816.
13th Light Dragoons.
Troop Sergt. Maj. Edward Wells.
Commanded Capt. Gubbins’s troop at Waterloo after all the officers had fallen. His gallantry that day was particularly remarked. Promoted Ensign in the 2nd West India Regt. in 1816. Lt., 25th Dec., 1823. Exchanged to 54th Regt., and quitted the service as capt. same regt. in 1841.
Troop Sergt.-Maj. Thos. Rosser.
Appointed adjt. 24th June, 1819. Out of the regt. in 1831.
15th Hussars.
George Chettle.
Appointed quartermaster 9th Sept., 1824. Out of the above regt. in 1835.
16th Light Dragoons.
Wm. Webster.
Appointed lieut. and riding master 25th Sept., 1832. Serving on f. p. in 1846.
18th Hussars.
John Collins.
Appointed quartermaster 12th June, 1817. H. p. 1821.
Sergt. James Robert Cruess.
Served in Capt. Ellis’s troop at Waterloo. Promoted Ensign 92nd Regt. 11th Jan., 1816. H. p. 37th Regt., 22nd Jan., 1816. Living 1824.
1st Foot Guards.
Sergt. John Payne.
Afterwards Capt. J. Payne, late quartermaster of the Grenadier Guards. Served in Sicily in 1806–7 and in Spain in 1808–9, and was present in several actions, including Corunna. He was also at Walcheren. He served in the campaigns of 1812 to 1815, and was present at the actions in the Pyrenees, capture of San Sebastian, passage of the Bidassoa, Nive, Nivelle, investment of Bayonne, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo. He was commissioned as a quartermaster the 31st Aug., 1815, and retd. with the rank of capt. in Dec., 1855. Living 1876. The following description of the square of the Grenadier Guards during the afternoon of Waterloo day is by Capt. Gronow of that regt., and is certainly worthy of remembrance, exhibiting as it does the desperate heroism of the British resistance:—
“During the battle our squares presented a shocking sight. Inside we were nearly suffocated by the smoke and smell from burnt cartridges. It was impossible to move a yard without treading upon a wounded comrade, or upon the bodies of the dead; and the loud groans of the wounded and dying were most appalling.
“At four o’clock our square was a perfect hospital being full of dead, dying, and mutilated soldiers. The charges of cavalry were in appearance very formidable, but in reality a great relief, as the artillery could no longer fire on us; the very earth shook under the enormous mass of men and horses. I shall never forget the strange noise our bullets made against the breast-plates of Kellerman’s and Millhaud’s cuirassiers, six or seven thousand in number, who attacked us with great fury. I can only compare it, with a somewhat homely simile, to the noise of a violent hailstorm beating against panes of glass.
“The artillery did great execution; but our musketry did not at first seem to kill many men, though it brought down a large number of horses, and created indescribable confusion. The horses of the first rank of cuirassiers, in spite of all the efforts of their riders, came to a standstill, shaking and covered with foam, at about twenty yards’ distance from our squares, and generally resisted all attempts to force them to charge the line of serried steel. On one occasion two gallant French officers forced their way into a gap momentarily created by the discharge of artillery; one was killed by Stables, the other by Adair. Nothing could be more gallant than the behaviour of those veterans, many of whom had distinguished themselves on half the battle-fields of Europe.
“In the midst of our terrible fire, their officers were seen as if on parade, keeping order in their ranks, and encouraging them. Unable to renew the charge, but unwilling to retreat, they brandished their swords with loud cries of ‘Vive l’Empereur!’ and allowed themselves to be mowed down by hundreds rather than yield. Our men, who shot them down, could not help admiring the gallant bearing and heroic resignation of their enemies.”
Sergt. Robt. Steele.
Appointed adjt. 66th Foot 23rd March, 1826. Lieut. 10th Foot 26th Sept., 1833. H. p. 8th Nov., 1842.
Sergt.-Maj. Christopher Main.
Appointed ens. 43rd L.I. 4th Aug., 1825. H. p. 18th May, 1826.
Wm. Hanna.
Quartermaster 4th Foot 8th Jan., 1829. H. p. 27th May, 1836. D. at Ardres en Calais 7th March, 1856.
3rd Foot Guards.
Quartermaster-Sergt. Wm. Thompson.
Appointed quartermaster 6th May, 1819. H. p. 1837. D. Sept., 1851.
Jas. Davidson.
Quartermaster 41st Foot 14th Feb., 1828. H. p. 1836.
Joseph Aston.
Quartermaster 9th Aug., 1833. D. in the Tower 23rd June, 1853. Bd. within the Tower precincts with military honours.
4th Regiment of Foot.
H.N. Shipton.
Appointed ens. in above regt. 19th Nov., 1818. D., of fever, in Barbadoes, 1823.
14th Regiment of Foot.
Sergt. Samuel Goddard (3rd Batt.).
In the Standard of 5th Jan., 1868, appeared the following obituary notice regarding this gallant soldier:—
“Death of a Military Knight, at Windsor Castle.—On Sunday last Capt. Samuel Goddard, Military Knight of Windsor, died at his residence in the Lower Ward, Windsor Castle. This veteran and gallant officer was formerly of the 14th or Buckinghamshire Regt. of Foot, and had seen very lengthened service in the army, having served in the campaign of 1815, including the battle of Waterloo and the storming of Cambray; in 1817, in the East Indies, he was present at the siege of Hattrass, and in the campaign of 1817–18, in the Deccan; also at the siege and storming of Bhurtpore, in 1825–26. With the medal so well earned, he was one of the officers receiving rewards for distinguished service; moreover, as having originated the measure by which was accorded to meritorious quartermasters of long service the nominal rank of captain, several of whom, many years since, presented him with a handsome testimonial, expressive of their obligation, and of his efficient aid.”
On Waterloo day, Sergt. Goddard was with an advanced party of skirmishers of the 14th, and about four o’clock the reflux wave of some French cuirassiers passed through them. They were, of course, fired at by the 14th skirmishers, and several bit the dust. One poor wounded Frenchman was thrown from his horse, and a comrade nobly returned and offered the soldier the help of his stirrup. An active light infantry man of the 14th, Whitney by name, who had shot one cuirassier, having reloaded, was about to fire at the mounted Frenchman, who was then rescuing his comrade, when Goddard interfered and said, “No, Whitney, don’t fire; let him off, he is a noble fellow.” (Communicated by a friend of Capt. Goddard.)
23rd Regiment of Foot.
Charles Grant.
Severely wounded at Quatre Bras whilst serving in the ranks. Was acting-quartermaster to the Grenadier Guards in Canada in 1838–39. Appointed quartermaster to the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers 5th July, 1844. Retd. on h. p. with rank of capt. in 1854. D., in London, 12th Dec., 1865.
Samuel Brelsford.
Appointed 2nd lieut. and adjt. 60th Rifles 25th Aug., 1827.
Garret Moore.
Appointed quartermaster in above regt. 8th Nov., 1827. H. p. 5th July, 1844. D., Dec., 1852, at Picton, Canada.
Wm. Howe.
Appointed quartermaster 35th Foot 29th March, 1827.
27th Regiment of Foot.
John Kennedy.
Appointed quartermaster 22nd June, 1820. Appears with the “W.” before his name in Army List for 1825 only.
28th Regiment of Foot.
Private John O’Brien, W.
In one of the charges made by the 28th, at Waterloo, “a flag belonging to the 25th French regt. was taken by Private John O’Brien, of the 8th company, who the moment after received a severe wound, which ultimately occasioned the loss of his leg. The trophy, however, was preserved, and sent to Maj.-Gen. Sir James Kempt, who commanded the division, when the regt. arrived at Paris.” Received a lieut.’s commission in the Sicilian Regt., and subsequently in 61st Foot. Retd. f. p. Rl. Veteran Batt. in 1817.
Wm. Kerr.
Appointed ens. 7th July, 1837, and quartermaster 1st June, 1838. H. p. 1844.
32nd Regiment of Foot.
Sergt.-Major George Oke.
Appointed adjt. 8th Dec., 1825. Lieut. 26th June, 1828.
Sergt.-Major Wm. Pepperal.
Appointed quartermaster 15th Oct., 1818. H. p. 1827. D. 1837.
Thos. Healey.
Appointed quartermaster 29th Nov., 1827. H. p. 28th June, 1844. D., at Quebec, in Jan., 1849.
42nd Regiment of Foot.
Sergt.-Major Finlay King.
Appointed quartermaster 31st Dec., 1818. Retd. 1840. D., in Guernsey, 1842.
Armourer-Sergt. Edwd. Paton.
Appointed quartermaster 19th June, 1840. D., at Southsea, in May, 1863.
71st Regiment of Foot.
Thos. Creighton.
Appointed quartermaster 19th Sept., 1827. H. p. 24th Jan., 1840. D. July, 1853.
Bernard Grant.
Ens., 82nd Foot, 28th Dec., 1832. Quartermaster 28th Aug., 1835. D. May, 1856.
73rd Regiment of Foot.
Maurice Shea.
Bn., in County Clare, in 1794; joined the Kerry Militia 1812, and in 1813 enlisted in 73rd Regt. and went to Holland. Served under Gen. Graham, and was at the siege of Antwerp. Was in Capt. Kennedy’s company at Waterloo. In 1835 joined the British Legion at Cork as quartermaster, and was subsequently promoted lieut. Was in twenty-six engagements during the war. Received the Order of Isabella II. for his Spanish services. D., at Sherbrooke, Canada, in March, 1892. He was the last Waterloo survivor known.—Army and Navy Gazette, 2nd April, 1892.
Sergt. George Austin.
Appointed adjt. 30th Nov., 1815. H. p. 1817.
79th Regiment of Foot.
Sergt. Colin Macdonald.
Served throughout the Par. War with the 79th, and was twice sev. wnded. Was again badly wounded at Waterloo. Served in Canada during the rebellion of 1838–39. Received an ensign’s commission 30th Jan., 1835, and appointed Town Major at Montreal. Living 1855.
Alex. Cruikshank.
Appointed quartermaster 12th Oct., 1838. H. p. 1849. Fort Major, Edinburgh Castle, 1851.
92nd Regiment of Foot.
Sergt.-Major Wm. Grant.
Appointed adjt. 5th Nov., 1819.
95th Rifles.
(1st Battalion.)
Fras. Feneran.
Appointed quartermaster to above regt. 1st Dec., 1823, and paymaster 95th Regt. of Foot 15th Dec., 1837. Serving as paymaster to the depôt battalion at Parkhurst in 1860.
Sergt.-Major Robt. Fairfoot.
A Peninsular hero who had been wounded in the breach at Badajoz; had his right fore-arm fractured by a shot on 17th June, 1815. Appointed quartermaster to above regt. 28th Apr., 1825. D. in Sept., 1838.
Wm. Hill.
Appointed quartermaster to above batt. 25th Dec., 1826. H. p. 29th March, 1839.
95th Rifles.
(2nd Battalion.)
Robt. Trafford.
Appointed quartermaster to above batt. 2nd June, 1837.
95th Rifles.
(3rd Battalion.)
Dugald Macfarlane.
Appointed 1st lieut. 18th July, 1815. H. p. Feb., 1816.
RESERVE FORCES.
54th Regiment of Foot.
James Willox.
Appointed quartermaster to above regt. 27th Sept., 1827. H. p. 1846. D. June, 1864.
91st Regiment of Foot.
Sergeant-Major Andrew Maclean.
Appointed quartermaster to above regt, 8th Aug., 1823. D., at Boulogne in 1869.
PART IV.
A FEW WATERLOO HEROES.
1st Life Guards.
Field-Trumpeter J. Edwards.
Sounded the bugle for the decisive charge of the 1st Life Guards at Waterloo. Was 32 years in the regt., and received a pension in June, 1841 His medal and bugle are still preserved in the regiment.
2nd Life Guards.
| [1] | Corp. John Shaw, k. |
| [2] | Private Samuel Godley. |
| [3] | ” Johnson. |
| ” Dakin. | |
| ” Hodgson. |
[1]. The well-known pugilist and “fancy man” of this regt. His prowess when charging with the Life Guards at Waterloo was exemplified by the number of cuirassiers he slew. The little that is known of his early life, and the account of his death at Waterloo, are given in his biography by Lt.-Col. Knollys, who, out of very scanty material, has compiled a very interesting little book. Shaw was born at Woolaston, co. Notts, in 1789, and enlisted 15th Oct., 1807.
[2]. Known in the regt. as “Marquis of Granby,” from the fact of his having a bald head. Had his horse shot under him in one of the charges at Waterloo, and was thrown. As he got up, minus his helmet, which had fallen off, a cuirassier rode at him and attempted to cut him down. Godley managed to kill his assailant, and mounting the Frenchman’s horse, rode back to his regt. who welcomed him with shouts of “Well done, Marquis of Granby!” Discharged in 1824. D. in 1831. M.I. St. John’s Wood Cemetery.
[3]. Immediately after the first charge of his regt. at Waterloo, when the French cavalry were being pursued by ours, Johnson pursued three cuirassiers who, with a view of escaping, turned down a narrow lane. “There proved to be no thoroughfare at the end of the road, when Johnson, though alone, attacked the three, and, after a slight resistance, they surrendered themselves prisoners.”
1st Dragoon Guards.
| [1] | Troop Sergt.-Maj. Thos. Nicholson, W. |
| [2] | Sergt. John Hodgkins. |
[1]. Received a sabre wound through his body when charging at Waterloo. After being discharged he resided at York, and kept the “Light Horseman” Inn, Fulford Road. D. there, 28th Sept., 1850, aged 66.
[2]. Served at Salamanca in a dragoon regt. Aftds. exchanged to 1st D.G. as sergt., and was present at Waterloo. Bought his discharge after 17 years’ service, and recd. a pens. of 6d. a day for two years! He was a native of Tipperary, but spent the latter part of his life at Penrith, where he was a well-known figure, being “29 stone in weight, 6 feet 2 inches in height, and 2 feet 4 inches across the shoulders.” D., at Penrith, in 1867, aged 80.
2nd Dragoons.
| [1] | Troop Sergt.-Maj. Wm. Robertson. |
| [2] | Sergt. John Weir, K. |
| [3] | Private Thos. Stobo. |
[1]. A native of Renfrewshire. Aftds. sergt.-major of the Rl. Fifeshire Yeomanry. Was in every charge made by his regt. at Waterloo. D., at Kirkcaldy, in Dec., 1825.
[2]. “Sergeant Weir of the Scots Greys was pay-sergt. of his troop, and as such might have been excused serving in action, and perhaps he should not have been forward; but, on such a day as Waterloo, he requested to be allowed to charge with the regt. In one of the charges he fell mortally wounded, and was left on the field. Corporal Scott of the same regt. (who lost a leg) asserts that when the field was searched for the wounded and slain, the body of Sergt. Weir was found with his name written on his forehead by his own hand, dipped in his own blood. This, his comrade said, he was supposed to have done that his body might be found and known, and that it might not be imagined he had disappeared with the money of the troop. John Weir joined the Greys about 1798, and was a native of Mauchline, Ayrshire.”—Copied from a MS. in possession of the regt., and communicated by Capt. G. Tancred.
[3]. The oldest soldier in the Greys at Waterloo. Served at Dunkirk under the Duke of York. D. 1852. His brother was aftds. a capt. in the same regt.
6th Dragoons.
| Troop Sergt.-Maj. Wm. Seney. | |
| ” ” John Laws. | |
| [1] | ” ” Matthew Marshall, W. |
| Sergt. Hugh MʻMahon. | |
| ” Johnston Marlow. | |
| Private Wm. Penfold. | |
| ” Robert Potters. | |
| [2] | ” Jeremiah Brown. |
[1]. “The Enniskilleners charged in line when Marshall’s squadron dashed into the thickest of the enemy’s phalanx, and were cut off from the other troops of the regt. Marshall, while sabreing a cuirassier on his right, had his bridle-arm broken by a stroke from his enemy on his left, and had not proceeded much further when he was beset by another crowd of French cavalry and hurled from his horse by a lance which penetrated his side. While he was falling he received a heavy blow across the body, and another which broke his right thigh. He lay unconscious except when goaded into sensibility by the hoofs of the enemy’s horses passing over his mangled body. The ground afterwards becoming somewhat clear he espied a horse without any rider, towards which he crawled, and was about to mount, when a French trooper galloping up cut him down in the midst of his hopes, inflicting several severe wounds on his body. This part of the field being again occupied by the French, a French artilleryman made Marshall’s body a resting-place for his foot while he rammed his gun. For two days and three nights Marshall remained on the field with 19 lance and sabre wounds. On the regt. returning home he was discharged with 2s. per day. Resided at Belfast, where he was much respected. D. there, 28th Sept., 1825.”—Scots’ Magazine.
[2]. Born at Enniskillen 14th March, 1792. Fought at Waterloo and in the Kaffir, Sepoy, and Maori wars. Living at Melbourne, Australia, in 1891.
7th Hussars.
Sergt.-Maj. Edward Cotton.
Had his horse killed under him at Waterloo. After being discharged from the regt. he took up his abode at Waterloo, and became a guide to the battlefield. Being a clever and well-educated man, he was able to compile a very interesting little book called A Voice from Waterloo, which held its own among the many accounts of the great battle. Besides this he formed a Waterloo Museum, which has always been a great attraction to visitors. In 1875, when the Editor was at Waterloo, the Museum was kept by a niece of the late sergt.-maj., who d. 1st July, 1849, and was bd. in the orchard of Hougomont, by the side of Capt. Blackwood, who fell in the battle.
16th Light Dragoons.
Sergt.-Maj. Baxter, K.
A Pa. hero, mentioned in the records of this regt.
18th Hussars.
Sergt. John Taylor.
Belonged to Capt. Ellis’s troop. In the charge at Waterloo he made a cut at the head of one of the French cuirassiers, which had no other effect on the Frenchman than to induce him to cry out, in derision, “Ha! ha!” and to return a severe blow at the sergt., which was admirably parried, and then Taylor thrust his sabre into the mouth of the cuirassier, who immediately fell, and the conqueror cried, “Ha! ha!”
Coldstream Guards.
Sergt. John Graham, Light Company, 2nd Batt.
Distinguished himself in the defence of Hougomont, and by his great personal strength was of great assistance in helping to close the courtyard gate against the French. “At a later period of the day, when in the ranks along the garden wall facing the wood, and when the struggle was most severe in that quarter, he asked Lt.-Col. Macdonell’s permission to fall out. The colonel, knowing the character of the man, expressed his surprise at the request made at such a moment. Graham explained that his brother lay wounded in one of the buildings then on fire; that he wished to remove him to a place of safety, and that he would then lose no time in rejoining the ranks. The request was granted; Graham succeeded in snatching his brother from the terrible fate which menaced him, laid him in a ditch in rear of the enclosure, and true to his word, was again at his post.”—Col. Mackinnon’s History of the Coldstreams. Was selected in August, 1815, for the pension granted by the Rev. — Norcross, Rector of Framlingham, “to the most deserving soldier at Waterloo.” D., at Kilmainham, 23rd April, 1843. He was a native of Cloona, co. Monaghan.
3rd Foot Guards.
| [1] | Sergt.-Maj. Ralph Fraser. |
| [2] | ” Brice MʻGregor. |
[1]. Aided in closing the gate at Hougomont. Served in Egypt in 1801. “In the landing at Aboukir Bay, on 8th March, the boat in which Corporal Fraser was, containing sixty persons, were all destroyed by the enemy’s fire excepting fifteen.” Served in Hanover, at Copenhagen, and in the Pa., and was twice badly wounded. Discharged in Dec., 1818. Aftds. a bedesman in Westminster Abbey. Living in 1861.
[2]. A native of Argyllshire. Enlisted at Glasgow in 1799. Aided in barring the door at Hougomont, and being very strong, was of much service in the gallant defence of that farmhouse. Shot a cuirassier dead who attacked him, and rode into the courtyard on the Frenchman’s horse. Discharged in 1821 with a handsome pension. Appointed one of the Yeomen of the Guard. D. 27th Nov., 1816.
23rd Regiment of Foot.
Col.-Sergt. Jonathan Thomas.
D., at the Union Workhouse, Swansea, in Dec., 1867, aged 85.
27th Regiment of Foot.
Private Thos. Kerrigan.
One of the few of this regt. who escaped being blown to pieces when standing in square on the Charleroi road, 18th June, 1815. D., at Calky, near Enniskillen, 3rd Dec., 1862. Is said to have attained the great age of 108.
33rd Regiment of Foot.
Private John Riches.
Was at the storming of Seringapatam, and is said to have been present at both Quatre Bras and Ligny on 16th June, 1815. Aftds. a Chelsea Hospital pensioner. D., at Attleburgh, in June, 1860.
40th Regiment of Foot.
Sergt. Wm. Lawrence.
Born at Bryant’s Piddle, co. Dorset, 1791. Enlisted in the 40th Foot at age of fifteen. Served with the 1st Batt. in the expedition to Monte Video, and throughout the Par. War. Wounded at Badajoz, where he was one of the forlorn hope, and kept six weeks in hospital at Estremos. Soon after made corporal. Earned Lord Wellington’s praise for the gallant manner in which he captured three French cannon, and drove off a score of French artillerymen with only six men of his own regt. Promoted sergt. Narrowly escaped being killed at Waterloo by a French shell, which exploded near Lawrence, “hurling him two yards into the air.” About 4 o’clock P.M. on Waterloo day was ordered to the colours, in defending which an officer and fourteen sergts. had already lost their lives that terrible day. M., when at St. Germains, a Frenchwoman named Marie Louise Claire, who, under Napoleon’s régime, had, in common with all other “Marie Louises,” been obliged to change their Christian names, so that the Empress might be the only one of that name in France! Pensioned on 9d. a day in 1819. D., at Studland, co. Dorset, 1867.
42nd Regiment of Foot.
Private Donald Davidson, W.
The following notice appeared in the Standard, in April or May, 1867:—“There died at the village of Ardisier, Inverness-shire, a few days ago, an old veteran named Donald Davidson, one of the fast diminishing band of Waterloo heroes. Donald, who, it may be mentioned, had six toes on each foot, was born in the parish of Nairn, Nairnshire, in the year 1792, and enlisted in the 42nd Highlanders in June, 1813. He served with his regt. in the Pa., France, and the Netherlands, from February, 1814, to December, 1816. He was wounded at the battle of Toulouse, and slightly on the head at Quatre Bras. Notwithstanding, he stuck to his regt., and was one of the gallant few who repulsed the grand charge of cavalry in the cornfield at Waterloo. He was discharged with 1s. per day of pension, and served for a long time as barrack labourer in Fort George. He d. at the advanced age of 75 years.”
52nd Regiment of Foot.
Private Patrick Lowe.
Served through the whole of the Par. War, and formed one of the forlorn hope at Badajoz, where he personally captured the governor of the fortress, by which he obtained a large reward. In 1848 he recd. the silver war medal with 13 clasps; but it is said he would never wear this medal, because he had claimed his right to 14 clasps and considered himself injured by receiving one clasp less. He d., at Enniskillen, in 1852, aged 84.
69th Regiment of Foot.
Private John Slater.
Born at Ilkeston, co. Derby. Enlisted in the 52nd in 1803. Served through the whole of the Par. War with that regt. Aftds. exchanged into 69th. In 1848 Slater claimed his right to the silver war medal with 14 clasps—one clasp more than Wellington obtained—but only got a medal with 12 clasps. He d. at Nottingham in 1860.
92nd Regiment of Foot.
Sergt. Alexander Cameron, Piper Major.
Served in the Pa. during the whole of the late war, and for his zeal attracted the attention of several officers of high rank. Lt.-Gen. Sir Wm Erskine, in a letter to a friend, after the affair at Rio del Molinos, says:—“The first intimation the enemy had of our approach was the piper of the 92nd playing ‘Hey, Johnnie Coup, are ye waukin’ yet?’” To this favourite air from Cameron’s pipe the streets of Brussels re-echoed on the night of the 15th June, 1815, when the regt. assembled to march out to the field of Waterloo. It is recorded of this gallant Scot, on the 18th June, 1815, that “not content with piping at the head of his regt. he marched forward with a party of skirmishers, and placing himself on a height, in full view of the enemy, continued to animate by playing favourite national airs.” D. at Belfast 18th Oct., 1817.—Scots’ Magazine.
Royal Horse Artillery.
Sergt. Daniel Dunnett.
Belonged to Capt. Whinyates’s Rocket Battery. The Waterloo historian (Siborne) gives the following:—“A party of horse artillery proceeded under Capt. Dansey along the Charleroi road, to the front of the centre of the Anglo-allied line, and came into action with rockets near the farm of La Haye Sainte, leaving its two guns in the rear under Lt. Wright. Capt. Dansey very soon received a severe wound which obliged him to retire; and the party, after firing a few rockets, fell back a little to where its horses were standing. It was then commanded by a sergeant (Daniel Dunnett), who, on perceiving the advance of the nearest French column towards the farm, dismounted his men as coolly and deliberately as if exercising on Woolwich Common, though without any support whatever, laid rockets on the ground, and discharged them in succession into the mass, every one of them appearing to take effect. The advance of the column was checked, and was not resumed until Dunnett, having expended all his rockets, retired with his party to rejoin the guns in rear.”