TWO ASHBURTON VETERANS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 24 February 1914, Page 4

TWO ASHBURTON VETERANS.

MEN OF MANY FIGHTS

At tho inspection of Senior Cadets at Ashburton, Mr F. Ferriman brought on to tho parado ground two Crimean veterans, Mr William Choat (78), and Mr John Connors (70). After tho inspection, tlio Mayor (Mr H. Davis) introduced theru to General Godley, who inspected their medals, and chatted pleasantly with them for a few minutes. NURSED _V FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. Seen subsequently by our reporter, Mr Choat said he was born in Cambridgeshire. At 17 lie joined No. 7 Company | of tho llth Battalion of tho Royal Artillery in January, 1533. Nest year ho left Woolwich with hia company, under Captain Gambicr, and landed at Scutari with tho first expedition which wn-> sent out to tho Crimea. They then went tip to Varna, in iiulgana, and with twenty others, young Choat volunteered for Captain Barker's field battery that fmight at the Battle of Alma. During one engagement he was struck by a bullet in tho lelt shoulder, but tlio wound was not serious, and ho fought on to the end. After the Battle of Alma the battery marcued to Sobastopol, whero Cnoat rejoined his own company, and fought ad through tho siege of Sebnstopol under Colonel Gambier, who had boon promoted. Choat also fought at the bnttle of litKermann, at which engagement ho was wounded with a shell in his right arm, and was invalided down to Scutari. While in hospital thero he received a daily visit from Florence. Nightingale and hor staff, who paid tho utmost attention to ail tho wounded. Choat was subsequently invalided Home, but remainod in tho Royal Artillery till the- end of 1857, when his uncle, who was renting a farm ir. Surrey, purchased his discharge. For his services during the Crimean war Choat received two medals and throe clasps. He had earned the Turkish medal ns well, but thoso had not beon issued at tho time of his discharge. The veteran is in receipt of the Army pension. TWENTY-ONE YEARS A SOLDIER. Mr Connors eorved a full twenty-ono rears in the British Army, and had a most, eventful career. Ho saw a lot of fighting in tho Crimea, India, and China, 'aud other places, and ho told the reporter that ho was born in County Cork, ''but 1 do not exactly know on what date, or in what year, but my lather was a Limerick man, aud my mother a Cork woman. At 1G I joiued tho 57th Foot, stationed at Conhalonia, in tho lonian Islands.' 1 In the samo year volunteers wero asked for, and Connors was one of fortyeight who joined tne 44th Foot under orders for the Crimea. He remainod nine months with tho regiment in front of Sebastopol, and formed ono of jthe storming party which took the graveyard. Tho battalion included the 18th Royal Irish, which was the .leading regiment on tho attack, with, the 33th next, then tho 43th, ti.o 9th, aud the 28th. They oponed firo with grapo and canister under General Lair. Connors was engaged with his company for ono period of about six months making roads down to Bnlnclava at the princely sum of cightpenco yor day, His regiment was tho third to return from the Crimea, and in 185S he went out and saw a lot of active service during the Indian .Mutiny, the regimental headquarters being at Point Do Gallo. ?! Ihcy1 hey were six months on tho voyage rom England, owing to contrary winds, and when they got to their destination tho 43rd, who had made tho run in threo. months, had taken the place of the 4tth, "And we lost," said Connors, "our chance of the big prize money, £120 per man." Connors subsequently went to China, and landed at Honpc Kong on St. Patrick's Pay, 1800. Ho wa« at tho stormmg of the Taltu forts which wero taken, in an hour and a half. Connors was about eighteen months in China, and returned to England in 1803. He aubso onentlv went out again to India with the 44th Foot, and saw a lot of active service for over four years in localities where the temperature during' ti considerable 'Xjriod waa 118 decrees in the *hade. He finally returned to tho Old Country, finished tho bnlivnoe of his 21 yenrs' Kervirto. nnd cot his discharge. Connor, hiv* the Crime* njednl and olefins. tb« Turkish medal, and the China-mednl "and clasps. He is also in receipt of +h" army nension ns well *»* the New Zenlnnd old-iirre pension. At on» r«vriod of his pnny lifo hn served in o. divis'on commanded by Major-General Oodley's fafcber, and Oonnor.n and one veteran are Relieved to be the only two men now "live who formed +he 44th Foot when he first joined that regiment.