Atkinson

From eurekapedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Background

Mentioned on Rev. T.J. Linnane's List.[1]

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Captain in the Military (12th Regiment).

Assistant Surgeon Arden reported that:

"I was in company with the detachment of the 12th Regiment proceeding to Ballarat the latter end of November last, the detachment was commanded by Captain Atkinson. On the night of the 28th (November, 1854) about 9 or 10 o'clock we got into the diggings. We had drays and it being quite dark and the horses jaded we were marching very slowly.

As soon as we got into the diggings a Mob of Diggers collected and assailed us with cries of Joe! Joe! (sic)

I was on the middle cart, Captain Atkinson was with the first cart and Lieutenant Paul with the last. We were pelted with large stones and bottles. We had not stopped anywhere before we were assailed. The drivers knew the way. One of the carts was capsized, the driver and two men were severely injured, the men were turned out and ordered to load. We found two men missing and a party went back to find them. They were laying (sic) off the road badly wounded. When the soldiers turned out and loaded the crowd dispersed. Lieutenant Paul was ordered on with the carts. We were shortly after joined by the 40th men from the Camp. During the disturbance several shots were fired by the diggers, but the military never returned the fire. I am quite confident that not a shot was fired by the military. Our Drummer boy was shot in the leg."

Post 1854 Experiences

Captain Atkinson was not in Melbourne on 22 October 1855. [2]

George Sharpe was Lance Corporal of the 12th Regiment of Foot. He could write his own name and signed the deposition he gave in October 1855.

I was in Company with a Lieutenant of our regiment about the 28th November proceeding through the Ballarat Diggings. We were commanded by Captain Atkinson. I was with the third [illegible] from the rear, when the mob attacked is. with stones, sticks and bottles. I heard some shots fired by the diggers, some shots were fired at us. I am quite certain that none of the soldiers fired a shot.
I never heard any officer ask the road to the Camp, the drivers appeared to know the way.
Sworn before us at the Police Office Melbourne
this 22 day of Oct 1855.[3]


Australian joint Copying Project REEL 3719 records that Captain Atkinson was with the 1st Battalion of the 12th Suffolk Regiment during 1 July to 30 September 1858. The 3rd Muster Detachment sows them at Eagle Hawk Neck.[4]

See also

Military

Further Reading

References

  1. Names in the Eureka Story, self published, c1972.
  2. PROV, VPRS 1189, Unit 253
  3. PROV, VPRS 1189, Unit 253, Item R55/13783
  4. Dorothy Wickham, Notes and Research 1996

External links