The British garrison in Australia 1788 - 1841, guard detachments on convict transports.

In the article on the movement of the 40th Regiment as Guard Detachments, in Sabretache Vol LXI, December 2000, reference was made to the Regulations to be observed by detachments of troops embarked on board convict transports, promulgated in Orders and Regulations For The Army -- 1837. These Regulations have been transcribed from an original copy of the Regulations held by the Library of the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, and appear below. As far as possible the Regulations are presented in the style of the original.

REGULATIONS to be observed by Detachments of Troops embarked on board CONVICT SHIPS 

There is no Duty which can occur to a Regimental Officer, (whatever his rank,) in which unceasing Vigilance is more required, than that connected with the command of a Convict-Guard; and there is no point connected with that Duty, in which Watchfulness and Attention on his part are more essential, than the rigid enforcement, in the Men of his Detachment, of the Instructions laid down for his guidance.

The General Commanding-in-Chief is anxious to impress these Instructions upon the attention of Officers Commanding Detachments employed on this Duty; as any laxity of discipline or deficiency in the exercise of proper Vigilance and Caution. might be attended with most serious consequences, and entail disgrace on the Officers and Soldiers, and also on the Regiment to which they belong, by whose remissness and neglect such consequences may have arisen.

1st. The Officer Commanding a Guard, immediately it is embarked, is to apply to the Surgeon, or Superintending Officer, for his full and active co-operation in carrying these Instructions into effect.

2nd. The Soldiers are to be cautioned and strictly prohibited from holding any intercourse or communication with the Convicts, and that a disregard of the Orders on the subject will be met with certain punishment. The Soldiers, even the Sentinel, is not to reply to any question or communication addressed to him by a Convict; in the event of being addressed, he must call for the Non-commissioned Officer on duty, but he is on no occasion at liberty to answer the Convict. The Convicts will be apprized, by the Surgeon Superintending, of this Order to the Soldiers.

3rd. The Detachment is to be divided into three Watches or Reliefs, each Relief to continue on Duty as follows, viz: --

1st   from    8 to 12 AM
2nd      "   12  "  4 PM
3rd      "    4  "  6  "
1st      "    6  "  8  "
2nd      "    8  " 12  "
3rd      "   12  "  4 AM
1st      "    4  "  8  "

4th. During the day the Guard is to be stationed on the Poop, and their Arms so disposed on the top of the Arm Chest, as to be immediately available in case of need. At night the Guard is to be stationed on the Quarter-Deck and the Arms placed in an Arm-Rack to be made for this purpose.

5th. Three Sentries are to be furnished and relieved every hour.

6th. During the Day, the Sentries are to be posted as follows: --

   One at the Windward Gangway, and one on each side of the front of the Poop;
   the former is to keep the Doors in the Barricado constantly closed, prevent
   the Prisoners coming aft, except passed by order, and will generally attend
   to their behaviour whilst on Deck;-- the latter will overlook the Convicts,
   and immediately report to the Non-commissioned Officer of the Watch any
   irregularity he may notice, or, if necessary, call on the Guard to stand to
   their Arms.

7th. The Officer Commanding the Detachment must be immediately acquainted with any instances of disorderly Conduct amongst the Prisoners, and in concert with he Surgeon Superintending, take such measures as are necessary to repress it.

8th. During the Night, the Sentries are to be posted as follows: --

One down each Hatchway, and one at the Windward Gangway.

   The former are to prevent the Prisoners from making a noise, and to report
   any sounds they may hear, which appear to proceed from sawing Planks,
   filing Iron, or from any other cause of a suspicious nature.

9th. Should any light be observed in the Prison, the circumstance is to be immediately reported to the Surgeon Superintending. These Sentries are to be armed with a Pistol and Cutlass, and previous to taking charge of their Post, are to ascertain that the Locks on the Prison Doors are secure.

10th. The Sentinel at the Gangway is to keep the Door of the Barricado closed, and will be in immediate communication with the Guard.

11th. When the Ship's Bell strikes the half-hour, the Sentries are to call "All is Well," commencing with No 1, and being repeated in succession by Nos 2 and 3.

12th. In case of Alarm, the Guard is immediately to stand to their Arms, and be in readiness to act as circumstances may require.

13th. The Non-commissioned Officer of the Guard during the Day is to take charge of the Keys of the Prison, and attend to any instructions he may receive from the Surgeon Superintending, with reference to the Prisoners.

14th. He is to post the Sentries, attend to the Reliefs, and see that the Men are vigilant in the performance of their Duties.

15th Whilst on Duty, no Soldier is to quit the Post assigned for the Guard, without permission to do so.

16th. Besides the Non-commissioned Officer of the Watch, a Non-commissioned Officer of the Day must be appointed, for the purpose of superintending the Messing, cleaning the Barracks, and attending to other details of this description.

17th. The Detachment is to breakfast at eight o'clock, and immediately after breakfast, everyone must repair on Deck, with the exception of the Men who are appointed to clean the Barracks.

18th. At Ten o'clock the watches off Duty are to parade without Arms for the purpose of Inspection, and twice each Week without Shoes or Stockings. At One o'clock the Men are to dine, and at Six the Fire is to be put out. On Sundays, the Detachment is to parade with Arms, when the Firelocks and Ammunition are to be carefully examined.

19th. In case of Alarm during the Night, the Guard on Duty is immediately to occupy the Hatchways, and if necessary, employ their Arms to repel any attempt by the Convicts to gain the Deck. The Soldiers of the next Relief are to hasten to the Barricado, and to occupy each Gangway. The remaining Watch is to proceed to the Poop, and act as a Reserve.

20th. The Sailors, armed with Cutlasses, are to proceed to the Hatchways, or assist in defending the Barricado and Quarter-Deck. If necessary, the Men on the Quarter-Deck are to retire into the Cuddy, and fire through the windows; The Reserve is then to fire from the Poop.

21st. It is right to caution the Soldiers against making any unnecessary noise, as it is important that the Orders, which it may be necessary to give, be distinctly heard.

22nd. Should an attempt be made to capture the Vessel during the day, the Guard on Duty, instead of repairing to the Hatchways, is to defend the Barricado and Quarter-Deck, and to be reinforced by the next Watch. If the Quarter-Deck be carried, the Men on Guard are to retire to the Cuddy, and the next Relief is to hasten to join the Reserve on the Poop.

23rd. It is necessary to caution the Detachment against the means which may be employed to divert their attention, in the event of an attempt to carry the Vessel being meditated. In cases where this intention has existed, an Alarm has been created by the cry of "a Man overboard," or by some such means; and during the tumult which followed, the Prisoners rushed aft, and endeavoured to effect their purpose. It must therefore be distinctly understood, that in all cases of Alarm, the Guard immediately stand to their Arms, and the Men not on Duty repair to their respective posts. The Soldiers of the Detachment must likewise be cautioned to be vigilant in the discharge of their duty as Sentinels; they must not relax in their watchfulness, nor permit the seeming tranquillity of the Prisoners to lull them into a dangerous security. The Officers of the Detachment, and the Non-commissioned Officers of the Watch, are to visit the Sentries frequently during the Night.

24th. It will be advisable from time to time, when the Convicts are below, to practice the Watches in repairing to their Posts. This may be done without Arms, and, if possible, so as to prevent the Prisoners becoming acquainted with the arrangements. Whenever it is necessary to flog a Convict, a Guard must parade under Arms on the Poop, and at all times when the whole of the Prisoners are on Deck, the Detachment of Troops is to be on the Poop, and ready to act.

25th. For the purpose of keeping the Arms in perfect Order, and in a state of fitness for Service, the Arms of each Watch are to be used alternatively throughout the 24 hours; they are to be discharged at daylight in the Morning, and those of the next Watch loaded.

26th. Upon all occasions when Arms and Accoutrements are issued from the Ordnance Stores, for the temporary use of Men composing, or forming part of, a Convict-Guard, the Officer embarking in charge thereof is to sign a Receipt to the Storekeeper for the number delivered to him, as also for the Ammunition, and is held responsible that such Arms and Accoutrements, as soon as the Service for which they were issued is completed, are carefully given in to the Ordnance Storekeeper at the Station at which the Convicts disembark, taking from him, in return, a Receipt for those Articles, and for whatever spare Ammunition may remain, after the prescribed Daily Expenditure during the voyage. The Officer is to transmit a Copy of this Receipt, through the Officer Commanding on the Station (New South Wales or Van Diemen's Land) to the Commandant at Chatham, for the purpose of being forwarded to the Office of Ordnance.

27th. In the event of Officers, who proceed in charge of Convict-Guards, having any complaint to make respecting their accommodation, they are to prefer the same to the General or other Officer Commanding at the Station where the Detachment may disembark, in order that immediate investigation may take place on the spot, and a special report (if necessary) made of the result.

48th Northamptonshire Regiment 1817-1825, The Heroes of Talavera

Background

1741        Raised as 59th Regiment.
1745        At Culloden.
1748        Redesignated 48th.
1755-1771   West Indies and N America.
1771-1795   England.
1795-1801   West Indies.
1801-1809   England, Mediterranean.
1809-1814   Peninsular War.
1814-1817   Ireland.

In New South Wales

August 1817      Four hundred and ninety seven all ranks, including
                 the HQ, arrived at Port Jackson in the transports
                 Matilda, Lloyds, and Dick. The regiment was
                 reinforced to a strength of 1000 in 1824, by the
                 successive arrival of detachments of 30-50 all
                 ranks as guard detachments on convict transports.
January 1818     Major Gilbert Cimitiere with two officers and 80
                 OR relieved the detachment of the 46th at Port
                 Dalrymple (Launceston) in Van Diemens Land (VDL).
11 June 1818     Brevet Major Thomas Bell and a company of the 48th
                 relieved the 46th at Hobart Town.
April 1818       Lt Cuthbertson and a party from Port Dalrymple
                 recaptured escaped convicts at Western River, VDL.
June/July 1818   Members of the 48th relieved detachments of the
                 Veteran Coy at Bathurst and Cox's River.
May 1818         Two soldiers 48th, Ptes Fraser and Thacker,
                 accompanied Surveyor General Oxley on his expedition
                 to Liverpool Plains and to the coast at the mouth of
                 the Hunter River.
July 1818        Gov Macquarie forwarded submission to Lord Bathurst,
                 Secretary for Colonies, requesting the garrison
                 strength be increased to a minimum of 1000 troops,
                 to control growing convict population.
August 1818      Grant of 3000 acres to Col Erskine CO 48th, in his
                 capacity as Lt Governor, named "Erskine Park", now
                 a western suburb of that name.
August 1818      Notorious bushranger Michael Howe killed by Pte Pugh
                 and convict Worrall in VDL.
January 1819     Relief of 46th at Newcastle.
February 1819    Controversy Col Erskine/Commissary Drennan concerning
                 the operation of the Regimental mill.
May 1819         Lt Close and a party of 22 soldiers sent from Sydney
                 in pursuit of bushrangers (escaped convicts) in the
                 Cowpastures, west of the Nepean River. Close reported
                 `a want of success' in his efforts.
Sep 1819         HQ at Port Dalrymple moved to George Town by
                 direction of Governor Macquarie,
October 1819     Soldiers at George Town demanded back issues of rum.
26 Sep 1819      Commissioner of Inquiry, J T Bigge, arrived in Sydney
January 1820     The first Australian Masonic Lodge, with Samuel
                 Clayton as Master of Ceremonies, established under
                 the sponsorship of the 48th's Military Lodge.
April 1820       Mary Nesbitt raped by soldiers at Launceston.
18 July 1820     Sgt Heywood and party capture bushrangers near
                 Jericho in VDL, Sgt Flanders and party also active.
3 August 1820    Lt T V Blomfield married Christiana Brooks, daughter
                 of Richard Brooks, prominent settler.
6 October 1820   Pte Greenaway deserted with convicts from Newcastle.
29 October 1820  First Wesleyan prayer meeting at Hobart, attended by
                 soldiers of the 48th.
16 March 1821    Two parties of the 48th in pursuit of bushrangers in
                 VDL fire on each other- Cpl Deane was killed.
April 1821       Captain Francis Allman, with two officers and 37
                 soldiers established first settlement at Port
                 Macquarie, as a place of secondary punishment.
July 1821        Lt Lachlan McAlister became the first officer to
                 leave regiment to settle in colony.
Sep 1821         Lt E C Close married Sophia Palmer, daughter of
                 Jack Palmer, Purser on the Sirius, Commissary,
                 and successful settler.
1 December 1821  Governor Brisbane assumed office vice Macquarie.
December 1821    Rev George Middleton complained that Major Morisset,
                 Comdandant at Newcastle, was living in adultery.
21 December      Lt John Cuthbertson, with 17 soldiers, sailed from
                 Hobart to establish the first settlement at Macquarie
                 Harbour, on west coast of VDL, as a place of
                 secondary punishment.
January 1822     Board of Enquiry established to investigate Major
                 Druitt's management of the Engineering Department.
February 1822    Pte Brittain dies on the road from George Town to
                 Launceston while carrying despatches.
1 March 1822     First detachment of the 3rd Regiment, the Buffs,
                 arrived at Port Jackson as convict transport guards.
March 1822       Convicts who made the first attempt to escape from
                 Macquarie Harbour perished in the bush.
April 1822       Major operation to round up bushrangers in VDL.
Sep 1822         Assistant Surgeon James Mitchell goes on to half-pay
                 to settle in NSW.
Sep 1822         Alexander Pearce made a successful escape from
                 Macquarie Harbour by cannibalising his fellow
                 escapees but was recaptured.
July 1823        Det 48th paraded in Hobart Town in "new clothing".
November 1823    Second attempt by Pearce to escape.
14 Nov 1823      First detachment of the 40th Regiment, replacement
                 for the 48th arrived in Port Jackson.
23 Dec 1823      Lt Cuthbertson drowned at Macquarie Harbour.
January 1824     Relief of detachment 48th at Macquarie Harbour
                 by Buffs.
5 March 1824     HQ and 4 Coys embarked at Sydney for India.
7 April 1824     VDL company embarked at Hobart Town.
1825             Last 3 companies sail from NSW.

Transfers 48th Regiment to the 40th

Sgt Peter McWharrie       returned to England 1826
Cpl James McConnell (1)
Pte Benjamin Abel
Pte William Blandford     returned to England 11 May 1824
Pte William Giddes
Pte John Hadlington (1)
Pte Henry James (1)
Pte John Lee (1)
Pte Peter McAuley
Pte Lewis Moore (1)
Pte Patrick Scantling     returned to England 11 May 1824
Pte Francis Thorpe
Pte John White

Twenty-one members of the 48th transferred to the 3rd Regiment
waiting discharge in NSW.
Thirty-one transferred to the 3rd waiting return to England for
discharge.

Outline notes on officers and soldiers of the 48th who settled
in NSW and VDL can be found in Appx X to The Colonial Garrison
1817-1824.

(1) Member of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Home. (see Sabretache Vol XXXIX No 4, Dec 98, pp 10-11)

References

Lt-Col Russell Gurney, History of the Northamptonshire Regiment 1742-1934, Aldershot, 1935.

Clem Sargent, The Colonial Garrison 1817-1824, Canberra. 1996.