Guide to the Records of the Somersetshire Regiment, 2nd (40th Regiment) (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2579-M2580
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2019
Collection Summary
- Creator
- The 40th Regiment. 2nd Somersetshire
- Title
- Records of the Somersetshire Regiment, 2nd (40th Regiment) (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1832 - 1988
- Collection Number
- M2579-M2580
- Extent
- 20 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Records 1823-1866 giving a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel.
Regimental order books 1824-1865. Subject include movement of troops in Australia and guard detail for executions at Sydney Gaol.
Guard reports 1854 comprising reports of Emigration Barrack Guard, Gaol Guard and Treasury Guard.
New Zealand records 1860-1869 referring to conflicts and interviews with Maoris.
Correspondence files 1967-1988 referring to service in Australia and action at Eureka Stockade.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Filmed at the Headquarters of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, Warrington, as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1989. (AJCP reels M2579-M2580). Original microfilm digitised as part of the NLA AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
Lancashire Infantry Museum, Fulwood, Barracks Preston, England.
For further information see researching 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment at the Lancashire Infantry Museum (http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org.uk/research/).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1067197] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Related Materials
For a history of the 40th Regiment see:
Captain R.H. Smythies. Historical Records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment, now 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales' Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) from its formation in 1717 to 1893. Deveonport, A.H. Swiss, 1894. 2 volumes.
Some of the following records have been transcribed and published in:
W. Kahrau 40th Regiment (2nd Somersetshire) Transcriptions from originals from Regimental museum. Cheltham Vic., Kahrau, 1989.
Finding Aid Note
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2019. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
Pieces that were not filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project have not been included in this Finding Aid.
Advisory Statement
Australian Aboriginal, Maori and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this Finding Aid contains material and descriptive information which may be considered culturally sensitive and may cause distress. This Finding Aid contains terms that reflect authors' views or those of the historical period, but which may not be considered appropriate today. While the information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in an historical context.
Subjects
Australia; Australia: defence; British Regiment: 40th; Eureka uprising (1854); Great Britain; Maori Wars; New Zealand; Prisons: Australia; Sydney Gaol; Somersetshire Regiment
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 426, p. 167. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-397322928]
Biographical / Historical
The 40th Regiment was raised in Nova Scotia in 1717 by General Richard Phipps out of independent companies stationed in North America and the West Indies. It was based at Annapolis Royal until 1759, when it moved to Halifax and later to Barbados. It was transferred to Ireland in 1767. It returned to North America in 1775 and served throughout the War of Independence.
In 1782 the Regiment took a county title as the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment. During the Napoleonic Wars it served in the West Indies, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and France. It took part in the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and formed part of the Army of Occupation in France (1815-1817).
In 1823 the 40th Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Balfour, was despatched in small detachments to New South Wales. They were based in both Sydney and Hobart and took part in the Black War in Van Diemen's Land in 1824. The Regiment left for India in 1829. It returned to Australia in 1852 and took part in the suppression of the Eureka Uprising in Victoria in December 1854. Detachments of the Regiment served in all the Australian colonies, including Moreton Bay and the Swan River. In the early months of 1860 troops from the 40th Regiment sailed from Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney to New Zealand and over the next five years fought in the Taranaki and Waikato campaigns. Colour Sergeant John Lucas won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in action at Tei Arei on 18 March 1861. The Regiment took part in the battle of Rangiriri (20 November 1863) and the Battle of Waiari (11 February 1864). It returned to England in 1866.
In 1881 the 40th Regiment amalgamated with the 82nd Regiment (Price of Wales's Volunteers) to form the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). In 1958 the Regiment was amalgmated with the East Lancashire Regiment to form the Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Volunteers). In 1970 the Lancashire and Loyal Regiments were amalgamated to form the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
Item Descriptions
Series A. General Material, 1823 - 1866
5 itemsRecord of the 40th Regiment compiled by Captain T. Nelson, 1823-1829; 1852-1866 (File 1686/670)
2 itemsFilmed selectively.
pp.64/93-85/114, 1823 - 1829 (Item)
Gives a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel. There is considerable overlapping and some duplication of material.
In 1823-1828 the Regiment provided escorts for convict ships; crafts also went to Hobart and Sydney.
pp.167/197-218(a)/248, 1852 - 1866 (Item)
Gives a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel. There is considerable overlapping and some duplication of material.
In 1852 the Regiment went to Australia and was stationed in various locations including Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong, Adelaide, Ballarat, and Hobart. On 3rd Dec 1854 it "attacked a rebel camp"; it also provided escorts for gold transports.
Later the Regiment saw action during the Maori wars; Colour Sergeant John Lucas winning a Victoria Cross in 1862.
Services of the 40th Regiment, 1852 - 1866 (File 3103/526)
1 itemFilmed selectively.
pp.281-292, 1852 - 1866 (Item)
Gives a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel. There is considerable overlapping and some duplication of material.
In 1852 the Regiment went to Australia and was stationed in various locations including Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong, Adelaide, Ballarat, and Hobart. On 3rd Dec 1854 it "attacked a rebel camp"; it also provided escorts for gold transports.
Later the Regiment saw action during the Maori wars; Colour Sergeant John Lucas winning a Victoria Cross in 1862.
Events in services of 40th Regiment, 1852 - 1866 (File 3104)
1 itemFilmed selectively.
pp.360/90-376/181, 1852 - 1866 (Item)
Gives a synoptic history of the Regiment, its movements, action, casualties and personnel. There is considerable overlapping and some duplication of material.
In 1852 the Regiment went to Australia and was stationed in various locations including Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo, Geelong, Adelaide, Ballarat, and Hobart. On 3rd Dec 1854 it "attacked a rebel camp"; it also provided escorts for gold transports.
Later the Regiment saw action during the Maori wars; Colour Sergeant John Lucas winning a Victoria Cross in 1862.
Regimental Order Book, 16 February 1824 - 19 January 1827 (File 1712/696)
Orders given at Chatham concerning the guard detail for convict ships; and orders given at Sydney and Hobart. Subjects of orders include court martials, movement of troops in Australia, guard detail for executions at Sydney gaol. Indexed. (204p.)
Series C. Material re Service in New Zealand, 23 January 1859 - 1869
3 items
New Zealand War, 1860. Miscellaneous items, 1860 - 9 October 1863 (File 3105)
Includes:Six despatches from Thomas Nelson, Camp Waitara to Major of Brigade. Reporting engagements with natives, lists of casualties, interview of natives by Reverend Govett and Reverend Whitelay at Waikato.
Thomas English, Mayor of Adelaide to Major George Bowdler, Commander 40th Regiment, 9 October 1863. Testimonial on good conduct of the troops while at Adelaide.
Three sketch maps of Waipa and Waikato.
The War in New Zealand. Illustrated Times. 29 December 1860
Series D. Correspondence Files, 3 December 1854 - 1988
5 itemsFilmed selectively.
Service in Australia and action at Eureka Stockade, 1967 - 1968 (File 89)
Correspondents include L.C. Bennetts (Bendigo); Lieutenant Colonel. G.C.B. Sass (The Regiment); Keith E. Rash (Ballarat); Major P.J. Ryan (The Regiment), re the 40th's service in Australia. (7p.)
Brief record of service 1717-1881, 18 November 1966 (File 90)
Lieutenant Colonel G.C.B. Sass to E.D. Pinkard (Launceston, Tasmania.) with a brief record of service of the 40th Foot showing their service in Australia. (3p.)
Correspondence regarding Lieutenant John V. Rees 40th Foot New Zealand 1860-1861, 1969 (File 93)
Correspondence with W. Mullins (Swansea) and South Wales Evening Post re Lieutenant. Rees and the award of Victoria Cross to Colour Sergeant Lucas.
Letters Eric Moorhead, 1854-12-03; 1957-01-10; 1965-02-08 - 1973-01-08 (File 1854)
Correspondence with Eric Moorhead (Elsternwick, Victoria) re his research into the soldiers of the 40th who served in Australia. (42pp.)
Also includes:Major T. Hargreaves, Melbourne, to Major A.T. Condy (Warrington) enclosing orthopositive copies of guard reports.
Notice from French Consul to French residents in Victoria, 3 December 1854, re troubles in Ballaarat (sic.)
History of Ballarat by W.B. Withers. (typescript copy)
Australia, 1976 - 1988 (File)
Correspondents include: Robert Brown (East Bentleigh); Terry Young (Historical Re-enactment Society of Australia, Epping); Eric Morehead (Elsternwick).
Subjects include: military re-enactment of Eureka incident; details of uniform and equipment of the 40th whilst in Australia. (23p.)
Series E. Miscellaneous Material, 23 September 1987
6 items
Joyce Edwards. Eureka Stockade uprising 3 December 1854 and New Zealand Maori War, 1860-1866 connection (9p.) (printed), n.d. (Item (1))