Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-02-08, Page 7Wednesday, February 8, 2017 • Signal Star 7 histo Deserters in the Gaol L'te'sknbwfbf James Hamilton, Henry Cooper, Dan- iel Sucy, Isaac Curtis, John Hagett, Basil Worvil, Edward Early or Corporal John Byrne other than that they were all detained briefly in the Goderich gaol charged with desertion from the British army. Nothing is known of their motiva- tion for deserting, let alone enlisting, or their previous and subsequent military service, but the redcoat is deserving of much sympathy. Far from home, living in Spartan conditions and governed by a brutal discipline code, they were the back- bone ackbone of Canada's defence. Indeed, without the British 'Tommy', there would not have been a Dominion of Canada. James Hamilton, an enlisted man, was admit- ted to the Goderich gaol on September 24, 1842. He was the 9th prisoner held in the newly built gaol. Three days later, Henry Cooper, was arrested and charged with `inducing soldiers to Desert.' It is not known if Cooper was a soldier or whether he was a civilian who, for whatever reason, tried to 'induce' soldiers to desert the colours. Daniel Sucy was brought to the gaol on the same charge on April 28, 1843. In the case of Ham- ilton and Sucy, their regi- ment is not listed but probably deserted from the London garrison, the closest British barracks. For Hamilton and Sucy, there is a good chance that they had already been to Goderich. They may have been members of the infantry company dis- patched to town to keep order during the March 1841 election when the Riot Act had to be read to a disorderly mob. Huron History David Yates Corporal John Byrnes and Private Isaac Curtis were from the 81st Regi- ment of Foot garrisoned in London, Ontario. The 81st (Loyal Lincoln Vol- unteers) regiment had just arrived in Canada in 1843 from garrison duty in Gibralter. As a noncommissioned officer, Byrnes must have had a record of good con- duct before his alleged desertion. They were brought to the gaol on August 3, 1845 and dis- charged on August 6, 1845 and, presumably, returned to the London garrison for punishment. Another deserter from the same regiment, John Hagett was detained in the Goderich gaol on September 10th, 1846. Aged 25, Basil Worvil, was held in the gaol for desertion from August 25th to September 5th 1848. Worvil was in the 20th Regiment (East Devonshire) of Foot. It was noted that the army "gave security for fine and costs" for Worvil's brief stay in the gaol. Edward Early was a 27 -year old soldier when he was admitted to the county gaol on "suspicion of desertion" on January 4th and discharged on January 8th, 1867. He belonged to the Church of England, could read and was of "good conduct while in prison." Early was the last British army deserter to be held in the Goderich gaol. Desertion in the British army in Canada was always a problem. The Windsor and Sarnia bor- der areas were closely watched for soldiers try- ing to desert to America where they could never be found. Huron County was still remote enough that they may have thought they would not be recognized. Perhaps, they hoped to own their own land, start a family and begin a new life in Canada. Were they trying to escape to the United States by shipping out through the Goderich port. Were they trying to escape the tyranny of mil- itary life, or some other reason? The answers can never be known but one has to wonder how many succeeded in getting away. It may never be known why they deserted but it is known that they volun- teered for the army more or less willingly. Some joined because it was an escape from the squalor, filth and crime of Eng- land's industrial cities. Others joined "as a last resort or a drunken blun- der" and, not a few, enlisted out of simple patriotism, according to Richard Holmes in 'Red- coats' (2001). None could foresee that their chance of dying of disease was far greater than a glorious death in battle. . When they took the Queen's shilling, they enlisted for 21 years. The enlisted ranks tended to be drawn from the lowest classes of British society. For most, their uniform was the first set of new clothes that they ever wore. The cost of their uniform, rations, rum ration and living quarters was deducted from their pay which `was usually months in arrears. A few chosen Non - Commissioned Officers were allowed wives while in garrison. Until the Crimean War (1854-56), it was not unusual Gaol where British army deserters were detained. for soldiers' wives and children to live in the same barracks as the rest of the company. Only a blanket strung across a bunk gave any privacy. Other women and chil- dren whose marriages were not recognized by the authorities were known as camp followers. Camp followers easily mixed with and were hard to distinguish from the common prostitutes that accompanied the army on the march or while in quarters. Gambling, drinking and women may be more infamous recrea- tion for soldiers, but the Victorian army was also filled with evangelical Methodists, temperance advocates, masonic lodges and schools. Officers' lives were worlds apart. The British officer was drawn from the aristocracy. Their commission, or rank, was purchased for him by his family. Seldom burdened with mundane duties, their military training was minimal at best. The British officer, while in garrison, lived a life -of indolent ease. They lived, dined and hunted in a world unrecognizable from the men they were expected to lead in battle. While in garrison, they were expected to behave as gentlemen. Their one 'inescapable duty was to lead their troops from the front in battle. Disgrace in battle for an officer meant an irredeemable shame. Officers could cashier, or sell, their commissions at any time. They need not desert. For the other ranks, the punishment for desertion could be severe. Deser- tion in wartime was pun- ishable by death. Depending on prior ser- vice, desertion in peace time could be as little as a term of close confine- ment in barracks to flog- ging where the offender was tied to a post and whipped with a cat o'nine tails in front of their com- rades. It is not known what punishment the Goderich deserters faced Photo courtesy of David Yates when they were returned to their garrison but Cor- poral Byrnes must assur- edly have faced a reduc- tion in rank in addition to any other penalty deemed necessary. In the 150 years after the War of 18.12, one Can= ada's founding myths, perhaps a necessary one to forge a nation, was that the Canadian militia won the war. Beginning in the 1960's, long over due credit was given to Brit- ain's native allies for their part in winning the war. Yet, it was the stalwart British redcoat, few in number, but tough in bat- tle, who bore the brunt of the fighting and saved Canada from American domination. Until after Confederation, the Brit- ish redcoat was the back- bone of Canada's defence and security, Indeed, without the British Tommy, and men like Hamilton, Sucy, Curtis, Hagett, Worvil, Early or Corporal Byrne, there would not have beena Dominion of Canada.