MATTERS MILITARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 302, 31 October 1864, Page 7

MATTERS MILITARY.

THE 50TH (QUEER'S OWA*) PEGIMEKT. Sent to our succour in a moment of extreme peril, the advent of the gallant 50tli was hailed as a happy omen of a speedy solution of the difficulties surrounding, us. .It lias not been Uicir fhiiH that the IS'ative liebellioii has not yet become a " thing of the past." I'he reputation of the 50th preceded it. Who has not lie-i-' 1 p " ■' *> oi me rignting rimexn r Egypt, Vimeira, Corunna, Almaraz, Yittoria, Pyrenees. 2Cive, Orthes, all tell tfllcß of gallant fttis find daring deeds performed by the 50tli. Lite Peninshla, Panhiar, Moodkce, Ferozeliah, $lijval,, Sobraon. t Alma. liikepman, and Sevastopol have all teen battle grounds for the 50tli. Since the arrival of the 50th ih Keir Zealand the lustre of their glory nas never paled. Wherever and whenever opportunity has served the oOtli. officers and men. have fully sustained tlie.ir wcll-etirncd , ■ However brief and imperfect the following digest of the records of the services of the 50th may be, still we believe it will be interesting to most of our readers.

The 50th regt. was originally numbered as the 52nd. It received its present number on the reduction of two senior regiment*. Xliis regiment was raised and embodied under i royal warrant, dated Ttli January, 1750, directed t?> pir J.. Abererohibie. , At its formation it received two eoinpanies from the UoyalFusileers and two from the 30th regt. _. The first station of the regiment was Norwich, from which place it . proceeded to Dover, and then to llarwich. ai)d subsequently to Ipswich, wkereit remained until Juiife; 1757: From Ipswich the regt. proceeded to Chatham and thence to the Isle of Wight. From the Isle of Wight the regt. embarked on board the fleet under command of Sir E. Hawke ; and on the return of the expedition landed at Portsmouth. In 1758 the regt. was stationed at Maidstone, where it rerpained until April same Jc&r. Frotn. this period,hp till, 1760 the regt. Tni stationed at various home districts, but in jiay of that year the regt. embarked for Germany under the command of Prince Ferdinand. Tlic flank companies were engaged in several affairs during the campaign. On peace being made, the regt. marched to cautomncids- on the Fron tiers of Holland, where it, remained, tin til Jtiiie ]76Sj when it embarked for England!. ; After having been staiioiied at most bf the ioilitary. posts in Ireland, the regt. embarked from Cork for Jamaica in 1772.

The regt. remained in Jamaica until 1776, when it proceeded to !North America, where it remained but a short time.

Before leaving for England the regt. was reduced almost to its staff by the draughting of the dut.v mr;h to otl,ier regtsl In 1776 the staff ieiurned to Engiiih'L In July 1778 the regt. embarked on board 11. 31. fleet, under Admiral Kcppel, and was present when the attack was made on the French fleet off Ushant.

In 1784 the regt. proceeded to Gibraltar, it remained until 1793, when it embarked knd sailed for Corsicfl;

t During the continuance of tlie fegt. in Corsica, its services wei'e distinguished lit the capture of tiie two Martello Towers, at the storming of the Conventional Redoubts, the Blockade of Bastid, rind its surrender, and in the long and successful siege against Caloa. The regt. rereived the particular thanks of the commander of the forces, Lieilt.-Geiieral Sir C. Stewart.

Tu 1796 the 50tli proceeded with the army to Elba, and in 1707 returned to Gibraltar, and from thence to Portugal, "from which place it proceeded to Minorca, and after remaining there one year proceeded to Fgypt, and landed at Aboukir in 1801.

The regt. was engaged, under Sir !Ralph Abercroinbie, in the memorable actions of the 13th and 28th March, From Aboukir the 50th proceeded to the ivile, and was present at the reduction of Haclimaine and surrender of Grand Cairo, lleturned to Alexandria, and was present at the reduction and surrender of that city.

For these services His Majesty was pleased to sanction the figure of a " Sphynx," and the word " Egypt," being borne on tlie colors of the 50th.

In 1801 the regiment embarked and sailed with the expedition for Copenhagen, and at the siege of that city, under command of Colonel Walker,~where it greatly distinguished itself. Ou the surrender of Copenhagen the 50th returned to England. Ia December 1807 the 50.t1i embarked at "■osport, destined for a secret expedition, but without landing on the proposed shore. The 50th proceeded to Gibraltar, but after a short stay there proceeded to Portugal, where the army under Sir Arthur "VVellesley. Whilst in Portugal, the 50th regiment was • distinguished for its gall an try and discipline.

more especially in the action of Vimeira, -which word now borne "upon theircolora. ■ Oil the 16th January 1809, the 50tli regiment was_ engaged . with tlie enemy at Cortiniia in opam, in which Major Charles "Napier was taken prisoner, and Major Stanhope St; Wilson and Jinsigns Mooro and Stewart were killed. There was also a very heavy loss amongst the nonofficers and men. In consideration or this action, Corunna was added to the former badges to be borne on the colors and appointments of the 50th. The regiment returned to England in tlie same year. _In July, 1809, the regiment proceeded to VS alcherch, and from thenco despatched to Middlebiirj+j to' watch the motions of the enemy on the opposite coast. , In 1810 the 50th again proceeded to Lisbon, and from thence marched to join the army under the Marquis of Wellington, and on the sth and /tli ot May 1811, was engaged with the enemy at Tuentcs-de-honote, near Almaida.

On the 15)tli May 1812, the 50th stormed and took possession of Fort Napoleon and the bridge ot Almnraz in Spain. For this gallant exploit the 50th received the thanks of Sir Rowland Hill find General Howard, who witnessed tlio action.

+7> rc ginient was present at tlio repulse of .•"C ClCH'.y before Bigar in February, ISI3. In the memorable battle of Vittoria, the 50th regiment was particularly distinguished, and in the several actions of the Pyrenees its services were conspifcuoilsly displayed* On the 10tli November; ISIS, tlie 50tli formed a portion of tlio diiiiy wliifch biitcrcd France, under Lord Wellington. On the 13th December following, the regiment., commanded by Lieut.-Colonel J. B. Harrison, was engaged, with the enemy Hear Bayomie, in which it sustained considerable loss.

The regiment was engaged at. the Battle of Orthes in Franee on the 27th of February, 1814, and in March following distinguished itself in an engagement with the enemy near the town of Aire.

On the 10th of April, 1814, the 50th was in action with Hie ciiemj'' fit Toulouse/. Peace having been inade, the 50th rettirficd to Ireland.

In January, 1819, the 50th reftirned to Jamaica, where the dread scourge of that island almost decimated the corps, having ldst within S months 1 Lieut.-Coionel, 2 Captaiiis, 3 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, the Paymaster, Adjutant, and Assistant Surgeon, and 255 non-commissioned Officers and Privates, besides women and children.

In ISI9, the regiment was permitted to bear on its colors, the words ■' Yittoria," "Pyrenees," " IN'ive," and " Orthes," in commemoration of the distinguished part which it bore in the several engagements with the enCniy fit those places.

In 1821, the 50th again suffered fearfully from the West India Plague, having lost in one year 5 Officers, and 100 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. In order to fill up the vacancies occasioned by these losses, Volunteers were received from the 58th and 61st Pegiments.

In January, 1827, the 50th again returned to England. In 1831J the 50tti were styled " The Queen's Own."

The Regiment- proceeded by detachments at different pcrioui- i'i 1533-4-5, to iN'cw South Wales.

On the 30tii August, 1834, n detachment of the 50th under Cnpt; Johnstoile and Etisign Wright embarked /it Sydney for Nefr Zertland, on board the ' Isabel' aid ' Alligator,' for the purpose of recovering 9 sefuncn aij.d one woman, who to in captivity by life New Zealanders, this service being accomplished, the detacliiicnt returned to Sydney. The 50th liegimcnt was now broken up into detachments, and sent to the various settlements throughout the colony; .... On the 30lb January f IS-il. tlib regiment embarked and sailed for India, where it arrived in April und May following. From the date of the arrival of the regiment in India up to December, 1843, it traversed vast tracts of countries, and was frequently changed from one statio.ii to ahother, aiid suffered very severely from choiertt afid i'oret. In 3843 the regiment became a part of the snd , Infantry Brigade, and was.nominated to. the left wing 6f the Army of Eierfeise;. un.der Major-General Grey, C.B. About this period the army inarched from C'awnpore for I3undlck-hund. On the 23rd Dec., the force crossed the River Scinde, and Lomaree, and then, pushed on with the view of proceeding to Gwahpr.- , The 50th were sooii callcd iipofi to display their abilities, for the force was opposed by the Miihratta forces, over which two brilliant victories were obtained on the same day, the 20th December, at Maharajpore and at Punniar. The first victory was gained by the main body, under Sir Hugh Gdugh; the second by the left wing of the f\rmy; uudcr Sir j. Grey: During the latter eligitgefhbrii {lie oOtli attacked the enemy's left, and having formed upon the crest of a hill, charged down upon the eneiny in a most brilliant manner, completely defeating them aud capturing their gulls. The re#imeiit hitvliig arrived at Gwaliot, remained there but a month, aiid ift February, 1844, took tip their old quarters in Cawnporc. About this period the Govcrnoi' of India presented it star o'f broom t to eveiy officer and soldier engaged in the actions referred to.-

lii October, ''14, the regiment proceeded to Looclianali. Some short time after the 50th received orders to prepare for. the field again. TJie regiment was now placed in the division commanded by Sir H. Smith. . The force proceedcd. ,lo jVlitlueCj- t thcncc to Cliilcrii, unu. subsequentiy to ]ilobcl!jee, wliei - '.! tliey eJiciimped ; but on the following day the lbrce was called , on to proceed to meet the enemy. I On the ISth December, 18-15, the battle of Moodkee was fought. In this action the 50th were exposed to a heavy fire of grapeshot from the enemy's guns, and were also galled by matchlock men concealed as skirmishers in the numerous trees and thick bushes. Notwithstanding this they continued to advancc steadily, and opened a heavy fire on the enemy, and captured some guns. On the 21st the troops proceeded on tlic march for Ferozeshah, where Sir Hugh Gough determined to attack the enemy. The 50th charged into the trenches, and in entering, a tremendous explosion of a mine or magazine of the enemy, near the centre of the line, divided the regiment almost in half, the right wing, -under Sir H. Smith at their head, passing through the village of Ferozsbaliur, and the left wing going parallel to the other, passed through the enemy s camp, and the regiment was reunited after having traversed the whole length of the village and

On tlie 17tk January, ''16, tlie 50tli took part in the battle of Alowal. In the battle of Sobraon, which took place on tlie 10th February, '4(5, the 50th bore a prominent part, and elicited the thanks of the. General commanding. The regiment now proceeded to .Lahore. "Whilst stationed there the regiment was honoured with a visit from Sir Charles .Napier,who was rejoiced at seeing his old regiment again. On being shown the old tattered colors, he grasped them with enthusiasm, and expressed himself in characteristic and glowing lanA short time before this, Colonel B.yaii had written to Sir C. Napier requesting him to present the' colors to the regiment. We quote Sir C. jN t apier's reply: — "To Lieut-Colonel Evan, commanding 50th llegiuient. " Kurrachec, August 22,1845. " Sib, —I received your letter, written to me in the 'name of the 50th lleginicnf, and asking me to present to it its new colors.

" Tell the regiment, I pray yon, that every feeling expressed by me in dedicating my Book on MUitary Law to the corps, is still vivid in my heart. I gloried in its ancient laurels. I glory in those more recently gained at Punniar. Proud shall I be to present its now colors to this celebrated regiment, which victory has always attended, for its valor ever seized with ardour the opportunities offered by its fortunes. "If fate throws us together before the 10th January, 1840, great will be my satisfaction. I f not. I must resign with regret the honour you intended for me. But I shall remember with pride that on that day, thirty-seven years ago, I commanded the 50tli Regiment in battle under the gfeiit aiid immortal Moore, whose dying eyes were iixed on the advancing colors of our regiment. ■ .

" (Signed) Cir.uiLivS Nai'ieu, Major-General." The Regiment having returned to Loodianti syffered from a fearful and disastrous Calamity— caused In- (he fall of the barracks. ~ On the 20th May it blew a perfect hurricane, which levelled, with one sweep, tin; whole of the range of tufa tit ry Barracks, butyiiig nearly the whole of the gallant 50th in the ritilfs —oilmen, 20 women, arid cliijdfen were at once crushed io death. Considerable, numbers escaped , wilh ( broken liinbs, and a great many dug out ot the ruins dreadfully injured. Soon after this the lieginient received orders for home, and proceeded to Fort William, from which it embarked lor England, in February, 18455. The Regiment landed at Griivesdnd and proceeded from thence to Deal:

About this time H.R 71 Prince, ; Waldemar of Prussia, presented a very beautiful clip to the 50th, as a token of his respect for the corps. The cup bore the following inscription : —" Tilts goblet is presented by i1.11.1t. Prince Waldemar of Prussia, as a token of remembrance of the happy d?"ys spettt among the officers ol her Majesty's 50th lieginient nt Loortifuifu "iid the following glorious campaign on the banks of fhc Sutlej." The regiment was soon removed to Portsmouth, where the Major-General, Lord Fitzclarenee, paid a high compliment to the corps by placing a handsome plnte round the staff of (he Queen's Color,S: The plat 6 contains a ehrystal with the silk of the old colors inserted, and an inscription showing the, mimes of (he officers who were killed under them in India.'

The Regiment had now several home stations. 11l February, 1854, the 50th proceeded to Malta, to take part m the Russian war. In April the Regiment proceeded to Gallipoli. On the 18th April it moved to camping ground near the village of Bulahar, being brigaded with (ho 03rd 11 ighlanders, and 2nd batt. .Rifle Brigade. The Regiment proceeded to Varna (in .Tune) and took iip camping ground on the right of the Upper Schumla Rond. . On the 2nd September the jßegiment embarked for the Crimea, and on the 20tji Sept. was in reserve at Alma.

On the 2nd October, the Pegiment found itself in the 3rd division, on the left of the British Army, where it remained during the whole of the siege of Sebastopol.

Oft the. 13th, October, Lieutenant-Colonel Waddy was slightly wounded by a splinter of a shell, while on duty in the trenches.

Un Tne mil November, the oOtli look part iii the battle of Jnkerman.

On the night of the 21st December, a part of the liegimcnt was on guard in the trenches of the Jeff attack, tinder the command of LietU.C'olonel Waddy, when the enemy taking advantage, of the, extreme darkness, made a strong sortie. CaptL Fraiup.ton, and Lieut. Clarke, were made prisoners, the hitter having received two wounds. Major Moller was also mortally wounded.

During the first six months of the siege, 310 men of the regiment died of disease. After taking part in various skirmishes, &c., the liegimcnt returned to Efigland iu August, 1856, and soon after proceeded to Ireland.' On the 27th March, 1857, the liegimcnt moved to Dublin to prepare for embarkation for Ceyloti, and on the 2nd July following, the right wing embarked on board the freight ship. ' Captain Cook.' The left wing on board the 'Medina.'

The 50th arrived at Ceylon in Oct., 1857. In the follow ing month, Major-General Lockyer, C.J3. ami If.S.A., presented to Col. Waddy, Major Ilibbert, and Private Thomas Beghan, the Sardinian medals, which had been awarded to them for services in the Crimea.

On the ISth August, 1803, new colours were received for the Kcgioient; In October, 1863, tLie IxegMeitt left Ceylon for New Zealand.

The following General Order by Major-Geiie-ral O'Brien', commanding the forces in Ceylon, will show Hie estimation in which the 50th were held in 111 command. r ._ . , Colombo, Oth Oct., 1803. ! "The 50th. BegiiricnC having this morning left Ceylon for .service in Zealand, after a tour of detached duty in the Island for six years. The Major-General cannot allow the Begimcut to quit bis command without recording his sense of tin; admirable manner in which it embarked, the soldier-like appearance, regularity, and steadiness of the men. all of which reflects the greatest credit t/pofi Uie corns, ;uid without expressing his best, wishes for the future welfare and distinction of the ' Queen's Own.' " During the period the Major-General lifts himself been associated with the .Regiment, lie lias observed with much satisfaction the unanimity that has constantly prevailed amongst, the officers, and has had many occasions to be pleased with Ihedomcanour and steadiness of the men under arms, and is well assured that whatever duty it fnay be called upon to perform, the 50th Bcgiment will always; officers and men, sustain its famous and well earned reputation. The Major-Gcueral takes leave of its most efficient and zealous commanding officer with much regret; he has always received from Colonel Waddy, C. B„ the support, both iu his capacity as commandant of a station and commanding officer of hi,s Pegiuicnt, ami entertains a very high opinion of his merits. The Major-General wishes both him and his corps a hearfcv farewell. I '-'(Signed) 11. IT. M,VYmvKi.r. j " D. A. General."

SIXTY-FIFTH IiEGEMENT. PBOMOTION OF QUAIITKU-MASTEII-SKUIiEANT ACIIESON. In- our issue of Monday we published the otlicial notification of the promotion of Quarter-Master-Sergeant Acheson to an Ensigney in the 05111 llegiment. it is now our pleasing duty to give a brief record of that oilicer's service as a non-commissioned otficer. Mr. Achcson entered the service in 1851, when lie joined the Goth and was immediately promoted to the rank of corporal. In 1553 he was again promoted, and, as Sergeant, performed the duties of Paymaster and Orderly-room Clerk for upwards of five years. In 185S he arrived in I?ew Zealand, and very soon after was promoted to the rauk of Color-Sergeant and l'aySergeant of the light company of his corps. In 18()tt his indefatigable zeal in the conscientious discharge of his varied duties, in and out of the Held, gained lor him the rauk of Quarter-M asterSergeant. We but reiterate the generally-expressed feelings of the oi!;eevs and non-commissioned of the old" Tigers" when we say t hat Mr. Aeheson is the " right, man in the right place " and we shall ever hail such promotions as evidence of the improved and improving character of our army. Pay-M aster-Sergeant G. Collins succeeds to the oilice of Quarter-Master-Serjeant, and we trust ere long to hear of his following the steps of his predecessor to a commission.—October 27.