Bristol versus Napoleon

Below are lists of soldiers and sailors who:

• Survived and returned from the Peninsula Wars – ‘Some Came Home’
• Were lost in battle, including an example of ‘friendly fire’ – ‘On Active Service’
• Were detained as POWs in France (the majority would have been seamen.)

 

1. SOME CAME HOME –  local soldiers who survived

Abraham Bennett of Bristol, enlisted 1805 discharged 1826 (aged 34) 36^th Regiment 16 Oct 1816 to 18 April 1826, “now 34 years of age, 5 foot 9 inches in height, dark brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion.  Candidate for Pension.

James Bennett, Corporal, of Frampton Cotterell enlisted 1807 aged 18, discharged 1829, 21 years and nine days service.  (Bp 16 August 1789 son of William & Sarah at FC.)

William Bennett, born Yate, served 8^th Foot, 1803-25. (WO97/294/55)

Ensign Henry Bowen, “Mr Henry Bowen, Ensign in the 3^rd Royal Veteran Battalion of a decline brought on by numerous wounds he received in action in the Peninsula and America.  He was present in Holland, 1799, the taking of Flushing and all the great actions in Spain and Portugal, the storming of Badejoz and St Sebastien, the taking of Washington at New Orleans in America and lastly in the Battle of Waterloo. He has left a wife and three young children to lament his loss.” (Obit. FFBJ 24.8.1822)

John Chambers, born 1760, Sergt Major, born Yate, Prince of Wales’s Fusiliers, Glamorgan & Glos. Militias. Discharged 1812, after 21 years 9 months service. 

Thomas Cox, born Yate, served Gloucestershire Militia 1788-1825, discharged aged 57. (WO 907/1094/267)

Thomas Farris, Adm. 12.10.1813, aged 32, 7^th Foot, Service 5 years 11 months, Complaint “Gunshot wound of the leg at Salamanca” born St James, Bristol, trade, labourer, 5 feet 5 & one quarter inches, brown hair, grey eyes, brown complexion. see “Some Gloucestershire Veterans of the Royal Fusiliers”, Glos FHS Journal, no. 18

James Fennell, Adm. 1.6.1809, aged 23, 43^rd Foot, service 3 years 11 months, complaint: blind, of Bristol. Trade, labourer, 5 feet 6½ inches tall, brown hair, hazel eyes, fair complexion. see “Gloucestershire Pensioners of the 43^rd Foot” (Glos FHS Journal no. 28.)

John Flowers, mason, born Walcot, Bath, served 1800-19, Royal Marines 1800-02, Army of Reserve 1802-04, and was with the 7^th Company of the 28^th (North Gloucester) at Waterloo. He was discharged aged 41. (napoloenic-literature.com/Articles/28^th Foot)

William Gaskis, 51^st Foot, born Clifton, served 1813-1835, discharged aged 40. (PRO WO 97/647/55)

James Gibbens or Gibbons. born Seend, Wiltshire, 2^nd Life Guards, served 1807-1818, discharged aged 32. “Letter to the Overseers of the Poor from J. Thompson, travelling equipage maker to Her Majesty, asking for support for the family of James Gibbens of Wick and Abson, (Glos.), an in-pensioner at Chelsea Hospital, a Lifeguard, wounded at Waterloo.” (BRO P.Abs./OP/9[b])

John Grindle, Bristol, enlisted 1802 discharged 1819 (aged 40) Cambrian Fencibles.

John Hancock, adm. [to pension] 22.9.1824, aged 40, 43^rd Foot, service 21 years 5 months, complaint “worn out”, of Congersbury, (sic) Bristol, trade, sailor, 5 foot 7 inches tall, brown hair, grey eyes, sallow complexion. “Gloucestershire Pensioners of the 43^rd Foot” (Glos FHS no 28.)

John Harris, Bristol, enlisted 1813 discharged 1834 (aged 41) (F51)

Robert Hepburn, 16.4.1823, aged 32, 50^th Foot. Service 10 years 7 months, complaint “Cicatrix from absecation of leg” [sic] of Ratcliffe [sic] Bristol. see “The Blind Half-Hundred” Royal Army of Reserve. (Glos FHS Journal, no 21.)

Daniel Hicks, Bristol, enlisted 1792 discharged 1816, aged 47.

Daniel Higgs, born Bristol according to the regimental list of the 28^th Foot, but of “Westbury, Somerset” according to War Office papers. He was a reservist in 1803 and served 1804-22 with the regiment. He was with 10^th Company at Waterloo, and left the Army aged 36. (napoloenic-literature.com/Articles/28th_Foot)

Edward Hoare, born Bristol, enlisted 1805 discharged 1814 (aged 30) (F49 562)

William Howe, Bristol, enlisted [?] discharged 1815 aged 41, 62^nd & 83^rd Regiments)

Edward Howell, Bristol, enlisted [?] discharged 1817 (aged 51), Foot Guards.

Thomas Howland, Bristol, enlisted 1808 discharged 1815 (aged 25) 1^st/2^nd & 35^th  Foot.

Joseph James Kelson, born Corsley, Wiltshire, 66^th Foot, 1804-1817, (PRO WO 97/793/113)

Noted in the headstone of the family grave, now demolished, at the former St George’s churchyard, East Bristol. Inscription: “Joseph James Kelson, MRCS, obit. January 22, 1866 aet 74, “Assistant Surgeon, Army, at Waterloo”. (Transcripts at Bristol Museum)

William Lonsdale, born Bath, 9 September 1794, died Bristol, 11 November 1871. English geologist and paleontologist, recipient of Wollaston medal in 1846 for his work on the various kinds of fossil corals.

He was educated for the army and in 1810 obtained a commission as ensign in the 4th (King’s Own) regiment. He served in the Peninsular War at the battles of Salamanca and Waterloo. Retired as Lieutenant. (see Wikipedia & “Lonsdale at the Lone Elm”, by Les Owen – Arnos Vale Cemetery newsletter.)

Joseph Millett, adm. [pension] 16 August, 1814, aged 35, 50^th Foot. Service 11 years & 4 months, complaint: wounded left arm at Almarez; of St Michael, Bristol, Trade, labourer, 5ft 6 & a half inches, brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion. He received the medal with bars for Roleia & Vimiera, and therefore must have been still alive in 1848 when the medals were awarded.  (“The Blind Half-Hundred” Royal Army of Reserve, Glos FHS Journal, no 21). 

William Morris, 12^th Dragoons, born Clifton, served 1795-1814, discharged aged 38. (PRO WO 97/97/85)

James Ollis, born Saltford, served 1803-29, Somerset Militia, discharged aged 51. (WO/97/1105/123)

Joseph Payne, 9^th Foot, born Clifton, served 1809-1826, discharged aged 41. (PRO WO 309/56)

James Philllips, 9^th Foot, born Clifton, served 1799-1813, discharged aged 46, 14 years, 3 months service. (PRO WO 121/135/182)

James Pillinger, born Bath, attested aged 25, Private, 22^nd Regt of Light Dragoons. (Chelsea Pension Records.

Thomas Pillinger, born Bath, enlisted 22.9 1808 discharged incapacitated, general debility, Trinidad, 27.10.1818, (age at discharge, 27), Royal York Rangers. Chelsea Pension Records.

William Poleman, 9^th Foot, born Clifton, served 1813-1823, discharged aged 27. (PRO WO 97/326/120)

John Randall, Adm. 5.2.1817, aged 38, 43^rd Foot, service 21 years, “wounded left thigh at Bayonne and below the standard”; of Bristol, trade labourer, 5 feet 3 & one half inches, black hair, hazel eyes, dark complexion. (“Gloucestershire Pensioners of the 43^rd Foot” Glos FHS no 28.) 

Stephen Sweet, adm. 28.4.1813, aged 27, 50^th Foot. Service 8 years 5 months, wounded left leg at Almarez, of “New Church” Bristol, (i.e. St George), Trade, labourer, 5′ 6½  inches tall, grey eyes, fair complexion, dark hair, died 4.1.1830, (“The Blind Half-Hundred” Royal Army of Reserve, Glos FHS Journal, no 21.)

Lieut Col R. Thompson: “Tuesday se’nnight, at Clifton, Lieut Col R. Thompson, formerly of the 68^th Regt. He lost his arm at the siege of Flushing in 1809 which obliged him to retire from the Army.” (Obit. FFBJ 9.10.1819)

John Tovey, adm. 7.2.1811, enlisted aged 41, 50^th Foot. Service 4 years 6 months.  (former service 1775-1783) Complaint: “Chronic Rheumatism & worn out”, of Westerly, Glos, Trade Labourer, 5 feet 10½ inches tall, dark hair eyes, brown eyes. (“The Blind Half-Hundred” Royal Army of Reserve, Glos FHS Journal, no 21).

Stephen Waterman, born Wraxall, 9^th Foot, 1809-1811, discharged aged 25, 2 years’ service. (PRO WO 121/22).

Parish Register, Wraxall, Somerset: baptisms:

Elizabeth daughter to Stephen & Jane Waterman, soldier/labourer, 7 February 1813

Mary daughter of Stephen and Jane Waterman, 8 May 1814, “disabled soldier, lost his right hand at the battle of Busaco”. Stephen and Jane went on to have George in 1816 and Thomas in 1817 when the father is simply described “labourer”.

Busaco was an Anglo-Portuguese success; a holding battle fought on 27^th September 1810 in Western Portugal against Marshal Massena’s invading French army.

Joseph White

21^st Light Dragoons, born Clifton, served 1800-1817, discharged aged 40. (PRO WO 97/143/51)

Stephen Wren, born Yate, served Royal Artillery, 1805-28, discharged aged 48. (WO 97/1271/154)

 

2. ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Lieut. Adjutant Andrews

“son of Mr Andrewes of this City, on the way to join his Regiment at Cadiz (60^th) on board the ‘Marlborough’ packet from an engagement through a mistake of signals with H.M. Brig ‘Primrose’.” (Obit. FFBJ 2.4.1814) (The sickening phrase “friendly fire” had not then been coined.)

Ensign H.W. Austin

“Died at Cove of Cork, in his 21st year, a few days after he had disembarked with the last division of the British Army from France, Ensign H.W. Austin of the 77^th Regiment, formerly of the Gloucestershire Regiment of Militia.” (Obit. FFBJ 8.10.1814)

Ensign George Fraser Freere

Died “On 6 September in Spain from wounds received 21 August George Fraser Freere, of 59^th Regiment of Foot, in the 22^nd year of his age, deeply lamented by disconsolate parents and regretted by numerous friends for his private worth as well as his public virtues. He was a most gallant young officer, esteemed by his superiors and admired by his men. His military career was short but active. As an ensign he took part in the perils of the Wallcheren expedition. In the Battle of Vittoria as a Lieutenant his intrepidity was highly impressive and claimed the attention of Colonel Fane, now no more, and at the storming of St Sebastien he was mortally wounded having his arm and shoulder carried away by a cannon ball whilst gallantly leading and cheering the company he had the honour to command and which was one of the first which stormed the breach.” (Obit. FFBJ 16.10.1813)

Lieut. Charles Griffith

“on September 23 last, killed at Mahrattas in General Wellesley’s action, Lieut Charles Griffith of this City, of the artillery, son of Councillor Griffith”. The obituary describes his proficiency at Oriental languages, and that he served at Seringapatam as soon as he arrived in India. (Obit. FFBJ 14.4.1804) 

Ensign Humphrey Jervis

Died “At Bidart, in consequence of a severe wound in the leg, after amputation, received in a charge in action of the 9^th under the Marquis of Wellington, near Bayonne, Ensign Humphrey Jervis, 84^th Regiment, and second son of John J.W. Jervis, Bart. A young officer of the greatest promise, in whom the service has lost a valuable young officer, whilst his parents are truly inconsolable.” He was wounded at the Nive, 9^th December 1813 and died at Bidart, 11^th December 1813. (Obit. FFBJ 8.1.1814, and redcoat.future.easyspace.com) 

Lieut. Col. Vassall

died at Montevideo. The obituary contains a long account of the Battle, 25.4.1807, FFBJ (For Dr William Vassall, staff surgeon, Peninsular War, see “Winterbourne, Glos”, C.H.B. ‘Elliott. 

Lieut. James Vaughan

“Died at Portsmouth, 76^th Regiment, recently returned from Spain, son of the late John Vaughan formerly of the City of Bristol.” His death was of natural causes. (Obit. FBJ 11.2.1809 and  redcoat.future.easyspace.com)

Ensign Winchcombe Hartley Willis

son of the Rev Henry Willis of Iron Acton, died at St Lucia. (Obit FFBJ 3.3.1804)

 

3. BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR

From FFBJ 2 January 1813:

A list of Prisoners from the Port of Bristol confined in Depots in France, October last, 1812, by a gentleman who has been so active in procuring subscriptions for their relief.

LONGWY: George Cooper, John Lee, John Jones, Stephen Ley, William Oke, Joseph Silcock, Thomas Oswald, Edward Escott, Samuel Graves, John Rowles, John Ryan, William Smith, Francis Minnitt, John Summers, John Pardo King, William Storey, William Gardner.

 

GIVET

John Wood, John Brock, John Owen, Abraham Nicholas, James Sullivan, William Prust, Joseph Herans

SAIRE LOUIS

John Gardner, William Davis, Edward Coggin, William Coggin, William Crowshaw, John Robson, John Evans, John Baker, John Edford, David Smith, Thomas Anmore.

ARRAS

Charles Harris, John Bosher, Thomas Brookes, George Morgan, Charles Bennett, William Jenkins, William Richards, Henry Lawrence,

SEDAN

Thomas Allen

CAMBRAI

James Jenkins, John Quarman. Thomas Hunt, John Robinson, William Burges, Michael Hayes, Thomas Dendall, Henry Nicholas, Stephen Read, William Williams.

(FFBJ = Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal)

  

4. CIVIC PRIDE

“Two hundred fine fellows belonging to the 18^th Dragoons marched through this City (Bristol) on their way to Northampton. There is not a horse remaining belonging to the Regiment, nor was there with them an officer of higher rank than Sergeant.  There were some of them not more than 5 hours marching from Wells to this City. Their chief regret seems to be the loss of their favourite companions, their horses.” (FFBJ 25.2.1809.)