AN INKERMAN SURVIVOR

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 9

AN INKERMAN SURVIVOR

1 DEATH AT HIHETY-FIVE SERVED THE TWO HISTORIC GUKi There has just passed away in peaceful Hataitai an old soldier who, at Inkerman, in 1854, was one or those who served the two histone field guns that turned the tide of that sanguinary battle (says tho Wellington ‘Post’ of Thursday last). Tho episode is an outstanding one in the records _of human valor, also in the astonishing progress of modern artillery. Born at Woolwich on June 23, 1831, nearly a decade before New Zealand became a colony, Captain Joseph Hyde, an artilleryman and the son of an artilleryman, served in the Crimean War (1854-55), and when his term of service as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Artillery expired, came to New Zealand as a field artillery instructor _ (with the rank of sergeantmajor) in IST6; superannuated from that service, ho went to live in Nelson, and became captain of “ H ” Battery, N.Z.F.A.; then, his volunteer service being ended by age, he retired to Wellington, where-he has resided for some fifteen years. Few perhaps realised that he was' a link not only with the reign of William IV. and with the Crimean War, but also an actor in one of the most notable artillery feats of last century. A life that reaches back to preVictorian times has indeed spanned some history. DESPERATE BATTLE IN THE DARK,

Seventy-two vears ago, on the night of November 4. 1854, tho outlying pickets of the British investing forces could hear the rumble of wheels and other sounds, caused by the beleaguered Inkerman garrison preparing for what was to prove an historic sortie. , A thick mist following heavy rain made ideal conditions for a surprise attack, and Brigadier-General Codrington had just voiced that anticipation when the Russian lines in front of him broke into fire. “ Tho Russian generals had harangued their troops, whom the priests had blessed and the quartermasters bad filled with vodka, and, 50,000 strong, and supported by forty guns, they wore on the march to break the British lino on tho extreme right of the Allies’ entrenched front. For these beginnings and the desperate melee that ensued in the darkness, tho ‘Post’ is indebted to articles by Colonel A. A. Grace, N.Z.F.A., in New Zealand papers, and to British authorities quoted by him. To meet the 50,000 Russians there were hut 8,000 British troops available, and they bad to withstand the shock concentrated on a three-quarter-mile front, supported by Russian batteries on what was called Shell Hill. Rarely in military history to that date had such artillery fire been concentrator, and for so long, on an equally confined space. In tho darkness colonels fought like subalterns, captains like privates. In the bombarded British ranks there arose—as sixty years later a cry for guns and shells to answer back. 18-POUNDER SMOOTH BORES TO THE RESCUE. Then it was that the British commander, Lord Raglan, remembered the existence of two long 18-pounders that had lately arrived from, England, but had not been brought into .firing line. They were cast-iron, smooth-bore o-uus of great length (over twenty calibres), and fired solid shot and shell. They were brought into action," ana “ from the beginning of their practice it was evident that at last the British had brought into the firing line weapons with which they could deal effectnely with the Russian artillery. The lbpounders’ projectiles burst squarely m the middle of the Russian gun position; their shells wiped out whole gun detachments, smashed tho enemy s guns, and silenced complete batteries. From the moment they found the range of the Russian position, these astonishing IS-pomuicrs completely, outclassed the enemy’s artillery. Neither did they cease fire _ while a single Russian gun remained m action. Then it was that tho French reinforcements arrived, and with them the weary and depleted British regiments advanced, and the Russian infantry was driven from the field.” MARVELLOUS FIRE-DISCIPLINE.

Half a century or more later Colonel Grace, proposing the health of Captain Hyde at a gathering of sth of November (the Inkennan date), quoted from Major May’s ‘ Achievements ol: Field Artillery ’ the story of “ those two incomparable guns, and the marvellous fire-discipline of their detachments, whose gun-laying and valor contributed so markctdly to the British victory.” He invited Captain Hyde to speak of them. “ What you have heard of those two guns is quite true,” said the veteran. “ I was one of those who sdVved them. I cannot describe what happened any bolter, though I was present. Ail 1 can say is that we blew the Russian guns and gunners to pieces. No doubt it was terrible lor them, but of signal service to Die British Army.” Of the B,DUO British soldiers engaged at Inkennan, possibly a few score remain. That they have survived the rigors of war and of the Crimea, and particularly of that battle in which the British wore outnumbered six to one, speaks to their vitality. Their memory is precious. “ That,” writes Colonel Grace, “ is why 1 have set down a few of the things 1 recollect of Captain Joseph Hyde. A better soldier never served Ins' Sovereign. It is a pleasure to know [this was written some six weeks ago] that ho is remembered and respected by his many friends in this, his adopted, country, whore, surrounded by his familv and his many descendants, he lives honored and beloved—‘ length of days in his , right hand, and in his left glory.’ ” The descendants of this remarkable nonagenarian are indeed many. Captain "Hyde leaves a widow and eight surviving daughters, also fiyo stepchildren; in the third generation there ore twenty-two grandchildren; in the fourth, forty great-grandchildren. All live in New Zealand, which has been Captain Hyde’s country since 1876. Lacking the century by less than five years. Captain Hyde passed away at Ins home at Hntaitai on Tuesday. The interment took place on Friday, at 11 a.m., at Karori, with military and Masonic honors. Will many of the old soldiers’ Crimean War comrades be unseen witnesses at the ‘Last Post ’ ?