William T. F. A. Wallace
Contents
Background
William Thomas Francis Agnew Wallace was a member of the Grenadier Guards,[1] and was Assistant Military Secretary to the British Army in Victoria.[2] He gave evidence on 5 December 1854 at the headquarters in Ballarat.[3]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Wallace wrote and signed letters pre Eureka concerning members of the military. The following is a series of three letters claiming that drummer James Bennett and Private John Crow of the 40th regiment are lunatics.
LETTER ONE
- Date 3 Nov 1854
- Assistant Military Secretary requesting that two men belonging to 40th Regt. (Lunatics) being be removed to the Asylum.
- Assistant Military Secretary’s Office
- Melbourne 3rd November 1854.
- Sir.
- In transmitting the accompanying copy of a letter from the Officer in Command of the 40th Regiment with its enclosures from Surgeon Collings of that Corps reporting that the two men named in the margin are decided lunatics. I am directed by the Major General to request that you will move his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor to give instructions for these two individuals being placed in the Colonial Lunatic Asylum.
- I have the honor to be
- Your most obedient
- Humble servant
- William F. A. Wallace
- Assistant Military Secretary
- 1 Nov. 1854
- 31st October
- 40th Regt
- Drummer
- James Bennett
- Private
- John J. Crow
- copy.
LETTER TWO
- Melbourne. Victoria
- 1st November 1854
- Sir,
- I have the honor to forward for the information of the Major General Commanding, a letter received from Dr Collings Surgeon of the Regiment under my Command, regarding two men, lunatics, named in the margin.
- In the temporary Hospital belonging to the Barracks, we have no sort of accommodation for Lunatics.
- I therefore beg to recommend for the consideration of Sir Robert Nickle, the request that he may be pleased to obtain the sanction of the Lieutenant Governor to these men being placed in the Colonial Lunatic Asylum.
- I have etc
- Signed
- Thos. J. Valiant
- Commanding Officer 40 Regiment
- Drummer
- James Bennett
- Private
- John J. Crow
LETTER THREE
- Copy
- J54
- 12.268
- Melbourne, Victoria
- October 31st 1854
- Sir,
- I have the honor to report for the information of Lieut Colonel Valiant that the two men named in the margin are decided Lunatics, and that their presence in the Regimental Hospital owing to the insufficient accommodation affording no means of proper separation, it is not only detrimental to the other patients but militated against their own recovery. Under these circumstances I beg to suggest that measures should be taken for their removal to the Colonial Lunatic Asylum.
- I have etc
- (signed A Collings M.D)
- Surgeon 40 Regt
- Lt. and Adjutant Buckle
- 40 Regiment
- Drummer James Bennett
- Private John Jonah Crow[4]
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ VPRS 1189, Unit 140, File J 54/12.268, Transcribed by Christine Stancliffe
External links