Recollections of my Life, 1843 -

1868 - Prescott, and another close call

2007-12-19T21:11:00.000-05:00

In June 1868 orders arrived that our Battery was to furnish 1 non commised & 10 Gunners to go to Prescott and be there stationed at Fort Wellington and mount 4 24Pr Guns. I was not one of the men ordered to go but I volunteered and was accepted. And we went by the Grand Trunk Railway and arrived at Prescott on Friday 1 Pm June 5, 1868. I was selected by the Officer to be Magazine Gunner. my duty was to look after the Gun Powder and frequently inspect and turn it over to prevent it being caked. and also to hoist & lower the Union Jack daily, that was all I had to do. I had only been here a few days when I met with a very Thrilling experience I was in the Powder Magazine on morning when a man came in smoking I hardly knew what to do for a moment, for if I told him to take the Pipe out of his mouth he night drop the fire out on the Powder, so I made a dash at him and shoved him out side, which was the safest thing to do. I never said any thing to the Authorities about it if I had, no doubt he would have lost his Pension (as he was a Pensioner) and I would have no doubt have been well rewarded, on the othet hand I would have been Punished for not reporting it to Head Quarters so I never spoke about it until I heard the old man was ddead and I had left the Military Service so I did not care who knew it, if the Accident had occured it would have been a bad on for their were some tons of Gunpowder there, not unlikely it would have shook 1/2 the town down.

1867-68: Quebec, Montreal, and Fenians

2007-11-26T21:15:00.000-05:00

As I have already stated we arrived at Quebec at 7 Am Oct 3 and disembarked at 4 Pm in a storm of Rain & Sleet and march to the Jesuit Barracks were we stayed until Sat when we went on board the Quebec Steamer in a Heavy Rain Storm. I never with one exception (the night in the ditch in Corfu Christmas Eve /61) put in such a night we were wet through no were to sit down the deck was covered with mud & Slush we were glad when we got to Montreal on Sunday Morning and march to the College Street Barracks and stopped there until Thursday when we went to St Helens Island, and we put in a very severe Winter. the duty was heavy as there was a talk about Fenians causing the number of men on Guard and other duties to be doubled. I was on Sentry at midnight on New Years Eve and I heard the Bells in Montreal ringing the old year out and the New Year In my thoughts reverted to the old house and those far away I had great inducement at this time to re-engage to complete 21 years service but I did not do so but I resolved to save some money to buy tools to do shoe making so that I would save enough to buy my discharge if I wished to. I soon began to earn a little and put it away for my own use. I use to work all my spare time on St Helens Island.

1867 – By Sea to Canada

2007-11-14T21:08:00.000-05:00

The following is the time taken on our voyage Left Malta 550 Pm Saturday August 31. Arrived at Gibralter 10 Am Thursday Sep 5. set sail next day at 1130 Am arrived at the Island of Fayal 11 Am Friday 13th Sailed at 430 Am Sunday 15 experienced very heavy gales on the 17 18 & 19 very near being Ship wrecked the hatches all battened down no one allowed on deck but the watch on Duty, and 8 men lashed to the Wheel as it was impossible to stand on deck as the Good Ship was rolling and plunging so heavily. Arrived at Halifax NS at noon on Wednesday 25 left there on Sat 29th 8 Am arrived at Quebec Thursday Oct 3, 7 Am and at Montreal on Sunday Oct 6, 7 Am We had a very long voyage, but our treatment was different to what it was 6 years before. we got fresh meat and canned Beef & vegetables and fresh Baked Bread and a Pint of Porter per day. we were all well satisfied with our Provisions different to Salt Pork & Beef and Hard Biscuit day about. I never experienced such a change as we saw entering the Harbor of Fayal the scene was most grand to see the beautiful trees and vegetation everything green and blooming it was very surprising to us after been so long on a barren Island like Malta.

1867 - Long Farewell to Malta

2007-11-05T19:51:00.000-05:00

On 5 Pm Sat. June 30 our Right wing sailed from Malta on board HMS Simoon for Canada and left us behind to anxiously wait her return she reached Quebec on July 19 and came back to Malta on August 24 and we received orders to embark on the 31st and we were glad to hear it, for we were tired of Malta and it rocky shore & barren Plains we were willing to bid it a long farewell. as a rule Soldiers are always willing to leave there Stations after a year or two but as we had been there much longer the men were sick of it and glad to get a change. We expected that after a while in Canada, we might receive orders to proceed to England but that was not the case, we embarked on board HMS Simoon on Saturday August 31, 1867. I was sorry to hear afterwards that the Cholera broke out the day after we left Malta and the newly arrived Troops suffered severely. In leaving Malta we left a great number of our men in Gods Acre to sleep until the last Great Day of the Resurrection when all will arise to meet the Great Judge to be each one adjudged according to his works wether they be good or wether they be Evil.

1866-67: Malta and a Death in the Family

2007-10-22T20:30:00.000-04:00

In November we shifted Quarters to Fort Ricasoli were we remained until November 1866 when we removed to Fort St Angelo which proved to be my last shift in Malta; in February 1867 we heard rumours that we were to relieve the 10th Brigade in Canada but we thought that we would be sent to England. but that was not to be. at the end of this month I received word of the death of my Poor old Grandfather. I insert his obituary from from the town Paper. Died on the 5 February 1867 at Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Mr John Henry formerly Sergeant in the West Suffolk Militia. it is 74 years since the deceased first entered the Army he was 39 years a solidier and 35 years a Pensioner. he scarcely knew what a days illness was and retained his faculties to the last. He was good kind old Gentelman and he thought a good deal of me, always enquiring after my welfare about the last Question he asked, whether they had heard from me. I little thought the last time I shook hands with him it would be for the last time but such was the case. I should like to have seen him alive once more. May he Rest in Peace.

Malta - Cholera Outbreak

2007-09-26T20:43:00.000-04:00

In May 1865 the Cholera broke out in Fort Manuel & the Florianna Barracks and very soon it spread all over the various Stations[.] The Soldiers wives & children suffered terrible of course some regiments lost more than others. I believe our Brigade lost 94 men, but the natives lost more than the British, it was a very trying time. Funerals every morning & night for they cannot keep the dead long there, on account of the heat & those dying with the Cholera. The troops got very disheartened that the General Officer Commanding gave orders that the Bands cease playing at the Funerals. I was taken in one night with the decease[?] and carried to the Hospital I recollect the Doctor remarking that I would get over it. I do not mind any more until the next morning when I awoke they were carrying away a dead man next bed to me but thank God he mercifully restored me to Health and Strength, in a short time. In the month of October it was stated to have all disappeared It was supposed to have been brought to Malta by the Moors making a Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Mecca to worship there and thousands of them were engaged working on the Suez Canal for which they got a free passage to and fro and the steamer that conveyed [them] called at Malta to coal up and brought the Cholera with them.

1865 - Arrival at Malta

2007-09-17T20:13:00.000-04:00

We arrived at Malta at 10 Am on the 14th and disembarked at 2 Pm and proceeded to Marsa Muscetto Barracks. The next day being Sunday I heard the Chimes of St. Paul Episcopal Church playing, it was a long time I heard them before, it brought to my mind vivid recollections of my Boy hood Days, and the old Churches at home. The remainder of our men remained at Corfu until the 2nd of June on that Day it was handed over to the Greek Government and the Union Jack was hauled down and the Greek Ensign hoisted up in its stead amidst a salute of 21 Guns. In November we were removed to Fort St. Elmo Barracks the head Quarters of the Brigade.

1864 - Evacuation of Corfu

2007-09-06T20:35:00.000-04:00

In this month (March) we were witnesses of a sad sight[.] A fine looking man a Sergeant of the 2 Battallion 4 Regiment was executed for murder he shot his wife in a moment of Anger. he declared to us that it was strong drink that had unhinged his Reason. but he was truly Penitent for his Awful Crime and died in the hope of a better hereafter. We got all the work done with but an Accident one of our men was assisting to load a Norweagion Schooner with heavy Guns when she listed over and caught him underneath and filled with water so it was impossible to rescue him in time to save his life. I also had a very narrow escape I was helping to receive some heavy Guns that were lowered from an upper Battery when they were slung over the top it caught the stone work and showered them down around the men standing below. If I moved from the spot I was standing I surely would have been killed, for they fell all close around me but not one touched me, thank God. We got through dismantling the Forts about the first week of May and then we thought we were going to have a Rest for a while, after our hard work, but we were disappointed for we had to start drilling making up for lost time I suppose. We were exercising on the Esplanade on the morning of 12th May when a signal was shown on the Signal Station that a man of war was coming into the harbour which proveed to be HMS Magiviner[?] to take us to Malta at 2 Pm. No 6 & 8 Batteries embarked leaving No 7 Battery to remain at Corfu until the final evacuation of the Ionian Islands by the British[.] at 5 Pm on that Afternoon we weighed Anchor and steamed out of harbour. And bid farewell for ever to Corfu Green Isle its Orange Groves & Fig Trees and beautiful Trees that grew every where it certainly was a splendid Country. but alas we left quite a few of our Comrades behind to rest in Gods Acre until the last trump shall sound when all will meet again.

1862-1864 – Corfu

2007-08-30T20:09:00.000-04:00

A few days after the news came of the Death of the late Prince Consort he having died on Dec 14/61 (no Telegraph those days out there) and the Garrison fired minutes Guns and every round that was fired shook me very much laying in Bed[.] I was 43 days in Hospital and for a time after coming out I was placed on Light Duty until I was able to resume my regular Duty. We were still in Corfu when towards the end of 1863 it was rumoured that the British Troops were to [Evacuate?] the Ionian Islands and to be handed over to the Greek Government which proved correct. In March 1864 we commenced to dismantle and blow up all the fortifications and remove the Guns Ammunition Shot & Shells and all the Government Property had to [be] placed on board a Ship and conveyed to other Stations. All the Sailors that could be spared of the Man of Wars came ashore every morning and worked all day with us. We all had to work very hard all day as there was only a limited time to do it[.] after all the Property was placed on board the batteries were blown up and rendered useless[.] Batteries built of Solid Granite which cost millions of Pounds were blown up in the air[.] this was done in accordance with the treaty between the Powers in 1801 which provided in the Event of Great Britain ceasing to hold the Protection of the Islands they were to be left defenceless which was done accordingly.

1861 - Corfu/Vido

2007-08-20T21:07:00.001-04:00

After a few days I was sent with a detachment to an Island across the Harbour called Vido and Stationed in the Maitland Tower. It was in Corfu that I first saw the degrading sight of flogging a man on the bare back (since abolished) I also saw a soldier of the 9 Regt of Foot hung for murdering a comrade. The tower were we where stationed (30 of us) was situated at the back of the Island more than a mile from the Principle part of the Island here was also the Military Prison and the Rifle Ranges were the annual shooting was held by the various Regiment in the Garrison. When any of us at the tower wanted to go to the Canteen we had a long walk a head[.] On this Christmas Eve a few of us went over and I fell in with a man of the 9 Regiment that came from the same Part of England that I did & when we started for Barracks a little before 9 Pm in going over the Commons (it was Pitch dark and Raininh heavily) we missed the way and got on the top of a sloping Bank and my companion slipped, and in falling caught hold of me and pulled me after him and we both fell down a ditch outside of a fortification 35 or 40 feet deep how long we were there I could not say before we returned to consciousness. the first Idea I had when I got my senses I thought that some one had hold of my Right Side for there was some ones fingers sticking into my Ribs. I removed the hand and found that it was my own left hand with the left Arm broke above the Elbow. my companion did not fare as bad as I did he lost a few teeth he escaped by falling on me. I mind at the moment we fell the Gun Fired and I saw by the flash the depth we were going down. every action of my previous life flashed before my mind in that Quick desent[.] It was a very narrow escape for me but thank God he mercifully saved me. we had no means of getting out of that Pit but had to Pass the long weary night Pitch dark and Raining in Torrents waiting for Day light. Christmas morn appeared and then we found that thre was no means of getting out except with a very long ladder or hauled up by Ropes. We kept calling for help but the echo carried the sound over the other part of the Island. although there [were] parties from the Barracks searching for us during the night they failed to find us. At last about 8 OClock a dog looked over the top of the breastwork of the Ditch[.] I never was glad to see a dog before but I was that one and he attracted the notice of his master who at once went for Assistance and a little while we were released out our Prison. I was taken to the hospital on the Island & then sent to the General hospital at Corfu by the 3 Pm Row Boat (disco[?] the Greeks call the Boat they stand up and shove the Oars from not sit down and row like we do) and it was near Midnight Christmas Night before the Doctors came to set my Broken Arm. So that was the way and the Place I spent my Christmas of 1861.

1861 - At Sea

2007-08-14T21:28:00.000-04:00

We had a very pleasent voyage the Sea was smoth as Glass. In fact, we were over the Bay of Biscay before we knew it. I had a very narrow escape from death a few days after we were on board I was leaning over the Bulwarks looking at the Sea and a Sailor was heaving the lead when it passed my head but a slight distance if it had struck me it would surely ended my days but thank God I escaped. It is a strange sensation to lose sight of the Land for the first time and see nothing but the sky and the water and the Good Ship speeding on to her destination and think that there is only a Plank between you and a Watery Grave. We did not stop at Gibralter only a few hours to coal up. And proceeded on to Malta and on the 19th August the small island of Gozo appeared in Sight and at 630 Pm we anchored in Valletta Harbour. And the next morning the Right wing disembarked and we started on to Corfu one of the Ionian Islands which we reached at 655 Pm on the 23 and disembarked at once[.] Malta is a very nice Place to look from the Sea but not a very pleasent place to live for a number of years. very barren no vegetation of any account[.] But the Ionian Islands [illegible - looks like "very"], Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Cerigo, Paxa, Santa Maura, Ithica, are splendid vegetation abounds everywhere. Oranges Lemons Figs Pomegrantes &c growing almost everywhere. Roses Fuschias & Flowers growing along the Road side it used to [be] called the best Station a British Soldier could be stationed.

1861 - Embarkation

2007-07-20T21:53:00.000-04:00

On the 19 January 1861 I proceeded home taken the early morning train from Plymouth to London and slept at the Hotel where I had enlisted a year before and reached home the next day[.] my Father Mother and all my relations were glad to see and said that I looked well in my Blue uniform but that I looked thinner no doubt I did. I never knew a month to slide away so quick however I rejoined my Regiment in Feby and on arrival I was ordered to rejoin my own Battery on St Nicholas Island and the next day I was on Guard. I never felt so miserable in all my life as I did that night on sentry after having such a fine time at home for a month. However I soon got over the home sickness and settled down to Military Life again. Before I left home I promised my dear Mother that I always would write home regular which Promise I kept during my absence my Brother got married on Jany 7th 1861 and left home and went to live in Cambridge 28 miles from Bury St Edmunds. After putting in the winter on St. Nicholas Island we received orders to Proceed to Woolwich and embarked on the troop ship Meagara on the 17th of April and arrived at Woolwich on at noon on the 19th. This was my first experience of Board Ship life and it was far from being pleasant. But our voyage was short but it was long enough for me. In August we received orders to embark for the Mediterranean the first 5 Batteries to Malta and the last 3 Batteries for Corfu Ionian islands then the[re] came out an order that men of good Character could have 4 days leave of Absence and I again got a chance to go home my Mother came as far as Cambridge with me and 630 Pm on July 31/61 I left behind all that was dear to me on earth and bid farewell to all never to see them again on this earth and on Thursday Aug 8/61 we left Woolwich to embark on HMS Himayala for the East we stood for 2 hours on the Parade Ground at Woolwich in the Pouring Rain waiting for final Orders which arrived at last and we went on Board Ship looking like drowned Rats we bid farewell to the Land that gave us birth. I wonder how many of that 1294 Souls that embarked that wet August morning will ever see her Shores again[.]

1860

2007-07-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

I kept working with my father at the Bench waiting for the time when I would be able to enlist and going to the Soldiers Rendezvous. My Brother John was then working at a Wholesale & Retail Liquor store at last on the 7 of Jan.y 1860 I enlisted in the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards (same Regiment as my deceased Brother belonged to) but I did not let any know of it until after I was sworn in the Monday following the cause of my doing this was I did not want my Mother to buy me out. My Poor Mother was greatly grieved over it when I told her what I had done she thought I ought to have taken warning by me brothers fate he never returned home after leaving it the first time. On the following Saturday I left home and proceeded to London with a number of other Recruits to Portman Street Barracks until the following Monday when we were to receive our final medical Inspection owing to a mistake by the Doctor another young fellow were rejected and we were discharged a few minutes after a messenger came from the Horse Guards when they discovered their error soliciting us to rejoin but we would not enlist again. We resolved to go home again once more to our native town about 3 Pm we left the Horse Guards to go to the Shoreditch Railway Station on our way the an Accident occured in Bishop Gate Street which delayed the traffic when we reached the station the train for the East was gone so we had to wait for the next one which was to leave in 2 hours in the mean time we went over to the Ipswich Arms oppisite[?] the Station which happened to be the Recruiting Depot for the Royal Artillery after a little while my friend told me he had enlisted so I said I would do the same so that is how I came to be a soldier in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. On the following day we were taken to Woolwich the Head Quarters of the Royal Artillery and Passed our final examination and served out with our Uniforms. The following day my Mother & Aunt came up in the hope of getting me home but it was no too late I had no wish to go home I told them that if I left the service it would be when my time was up or I could buy my discharge on the next Monday (Jan 23/60) I was drafted among others to Join the 3rd Brigade in Plymouth where I was finally Posted to No6 Battery St Nicholas Island Plymouth Sound where I got my first steps in Soldiery and it was a cold Hungry place. I did not have half enough to eat it was an island about a mile from the main land but I did not complain. I was willing to put up with any thing sooner than let my Parents know to the contrary. The drill was very hard and the Island was so dull nothing but Guns all around no recreation or pleasure. I have thought what an old Irish woman told me when I was a boy at home she used to come over from Ireland every year with the men to do haying & harvesting she was supposed to be able to tell fortunes. She told me that I would cross many seas and settle in a foreign land and marry a woman not of my own Country which turned out to be true enough. In the month of June I was transferred to the Brigade Head Quarters in Plymouth Citadel to finish my drill and there we had a very heavy duty on Guard every 3rd night not very pleasant in Plymouth Barracks I spent my first Christmas from home I thought it very strange but it was different to the next one I spent in Corfu but you will hear about that Anon. I was anxiously looking forward to complete 12 months service when I would be entitled to a months leave of Absence to visit my home.

1843-1859

2007-07-03T20:48:00.000-04:00

I was born on Tuesday January 3 1843 at No 39 Long Brack Land in the Town of Bury St Edmunds in the County of Suffolk England. Of my younger days I have not much to note only that I believe I was the youngest of a numerous family and I may say that to my Dear Old Mother I owe my education and bringing up as my Father did not seem to care very much about house hold affairs. One of my earliest recollections was the funeral of my Grandmother. I was sent to school at an early age but although I attended very regular I did not make as much Progress as I ought to have done considering the time that I attended school. In reference to the town in which I first saw the light it is one of the most ancient towns in Great Britain named after King Edmund who was killed in battle between the Saxons & Danes and afterwards beheaded. A wolf was seen carrying away his head in his mouth and the King was afterwards interred in the Abbey thence is the reason the town is called Bury St Edmunds. Our family consisted Father Mother Grandfather (John Harvey) and two elder brothers Charles & John and my self. I went to school until I was near 14 years of age. But I only played truant once and that was on a Good Friday. Having got severely punished for it I never repeated it. At 14 years of age my mother thought it was time that I made a move towards earning some thing for my own maintenance. I started as errand boy in a Bookseller and Stationary Store for half a crown a week (62 1/2 Cents). From there I went to a Grocery Store and Quit that and finally settled down at the Bench to learn the Shoemaking with my Father but the whole secret of my not learning anything in Particular was this from my earliest days I had intended to be a soldier as soon as I was tall enough and stout enough to join the Army. Although I knew it was very much against my Mothers wishes and also my Grandfather tried all he could to Put me against it for he had had a good trial of it having been 35 years in the Army & 37 years a Pensioner but it was no use trying to persuade me against it. Both my Grandfathers had been in the Army I had two Uncles soldiers one (William) in the Coldstream Guards was in Canada at the time of the Rebellion in 1838 one (Abraham) was in the 17 Lancers was the only noncommissioned Officer that came out of the Cavalry Charge at Balaklava unwounded two cousins one in the 7 Dragoon Guards one in the 25th Regiment of Foot. In July 1853 my eldest Brother Charles enlisted in the Coldstream Guards and at the breaking out of the Russian War proceeded to South Ampton and embarked on board of HMS Himalaya on the 14 Feb 1854 and went to Turkey and from there to the Crimea and went through the Battles of Alma Balaklava and Inkerman and was invalided to Scutari Turkey where he died on the 22 Jany 1854 in the 20 years of his age. All Honor to the Brave. 5 years after I followed in his footsteps by joining the Army.