George Littlehales
To the memory of Captain G.R. Littlehales 12th Regiment who died February 12th 1855 aged 29 years and 9 months also of Privates William Webb and Felix Boyle who died from the effects of gun shot wounds received in discharge of duty on the 3rd December 1854 also of Private John Hall who died December 31st 1854.
Courtesy Ballarat Heritage Services.
Contents
Background
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Captain Littlehales, of the 12th Regiment died on 12 February 1855, according to the Muster Lists of that Regiment for the first quarter of 1855. Unfortunately, there is little detail apart from the recording of his death and the information that he had no will. This death cannot be found in the Victorian Death Registrations. His memory is commemorated on a significant grave in the Ballaarat Old Cemetery, in the enclosure with those of soldiers Webb and Boyle who lost their lives during the Eureka Riots. A large font was donated to Christ Church Cathedral, Ballarat " by his loving parents " ..... " in memory of G.R. Littlehales ". This still stands in the Cathedral today. In Winchester Cathedral, England, the Littlehales' family graves lie in the flagstones within the floor, just above the stone of Jane Austen. The inscription on Captain Littlehales' stone reads as follows, " Also of Captain George Richard Littlehales of the 12th Regiment of Foot Who died in Camp at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The 12th February 1855 and was there buried. Aged 31 years". Although Littlehales "died at the Camp at Ballarat" it is not certain whether or not he was a participant in the battle of Eureka. The extraordinary painting by Abbott depicts the early grave that was erected to Captain Littlehales. From the inscription inside Winchester Cathedral it is known that he died and was buried in Ballarat. The original tombstones in the Ballaarat Old Cemetery were replaced at a later date with those that stand today.
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
