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The Fifty-Seventh
1814
In the summer of 1814,the war with the United States, which had broken out
over American objection to the British Orders in Council, still dragged
on, though it’s reason had vanished with the conclusion of the peace in
Europe. Early in May the 57th was marched down to Bordeaux and after a
month’s rest embarked for Canada, where they spent ten months without
taking part in any fighting.
In December 1814 peace was made with America, and on the escape of
Napoleon from Elba the majority of the troops were ordered to return from
Canada.
1815-18
The 57th only reached Spithead in august, too late to share in the
campaign of Waterloo. But without disembarking it was at once sent to
Ostend, whence it marched to Paris. In France the regiment remained as
part of the Army of Occupation for rather over three years, being
stationed for the greater part of the time at Valenciennes. The
Lieutenant-colonel at this time was William Collis Spring, who had served
with the regiment since 1795 and commanded the 2nd battalion from 1811 to
1814. The 2nd battalion was disbanded in December 1815, all the effectives
having been transferred to the senior battalion three months before.
1818-24
On the withdrawal of the army of Occupation from France in November
1818, the 57th was sent to Ireland, where they spent six years. Their
stations were for the most part in the west, at Galway, Limerick and
Kinsale, and their duties in suppressing Whiteboy outrages were not the
best training for a good regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Spring retired in
1819, and was succeeded by Octavius Carey, who had joined the 57th from
the 62nd in 1818.
1824-31
In September 1824 the 57th, being under orders for New South Wales,
removed to Chatham. The regiment was not sent out in a body, but made the
voyage on fifteen different vessels. The reason for this was that the
detachments served as guards for convicts and were therefore only
dispatched as occasion offered. Under these circumstances it is hardly to
be wondered at that when the regiment was inspected for the first time in
Australia it was found to be not in so good order as might be desired. In
accordance with a practice which was introduced just at this time only six
"service" companies went abroad. The other four "reserve" companies
remained behind in England.
In New South Wales the regiment was at first under the temporary
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Shadforth, an old Peninsular officer,
whose son afterwards commanded the regiment in the Crimea. But in 1828
James Allen of the 94th was appointed in succession to Colonel Carey, and
commanded the regiment for eighteen years, the longest term in its
history. He had had a distinguished career in Mysore and the Peninsular,
and in 1846 was promoted to be major-general.
Duties in New South Wales-guarding convicts, or hunting bushrangers-
were not very military, though sometimes exciting. In 1826 there was
something like a rebellion in Van Dieman’s land (now Tasmania) under one
Brady, which ended with the hanging of 103 bushrangers. Captain A.
Robertson of the 57th served on this occasion in command of a detachment
of his regiment, and was specially noted for good conduct. In 1830 a small
party employed in guarding convicts to Norfolk Island were overpowered by
their prisoners. The soldiers would have been murdered, had not two of
their number found three fellow townsmen from Belfast amongst the
convicts. In the end the ship was recaptured and all the convicts, except
the three good men of Belfast, were hanged.
Other officers found occupation in exploring. It was Captain Logan
of the 57th who discovered the Darling River in 1826. Four years later
whilst on another expedition he was murdered by the natives. His son
Abraham Logan joined the regiment as ensign in 1841, and rose to command
it as lieutenant-colonel.
In 1830 Sir Hugh Dalrymple died, and Sir William Inglis of Albuera
fame, deservedly became colonel of the Diehards. He was the first colonel
of the regiment who had received his early training in its ranks. He died
on November 29th, 1835, and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral.
1831-46
In 1831 the 57th was moved from Australia to India, where they spent
fifteen years in the Madras Presidency, and for a considerable part of the
time served in Canara. But the first Indian experiences of the 57th,
unlike those of the 77th, which had won its early fame in this district,
were peaceful, save for a trifling occurrence in 1836, when a detachment
under Captain Donaldson was employed in suppressing a petty rebellion at
Mangalore. The regiment was now in a very good state, and in 1836 Sir Hugh
(afterwards Viscount) Gough reported that its appearance was highly
creditable and that he considered it second to none. Colonel Allan, though
nominally retaining command of the regiment, was employed as a brigadier
from 1834 onwards. Sir Frederick Adam, an old Peninsular and Waterloo
officer, succeeded Inglis as colonel in1835, but transferred to the 21st
Fusiliers in 1843. Sir Henry Hardinge, the most distinguished officer who
ever served in the 57th, then became colonel, and retained the position
till his death. It is related that he refused all offers of a transfer,
declaring the 57th was good enough for him.
The 57th returned to England after twenty-two years’ foreign service
in September 1846. General George Brown, a well known martinet, reported
that he considered it to be in a higher order and discipline than any
other regiment he had inspected on arrival from India. After serving at
five different stations in England during eighteen months the regiment
proceeded to Ireland, where it remained five years, when it went to Corfu.
George Jones, who had been second-lieutenant colonel since 1835, succeeded
to the command in 1846, but died the next year. He was followed by
Henry Shakespeare Phillips, who sold out in 1849, when Thomas Leigh
Goldie of the 66th took his place. |
