which
the Foreign Office with whom all genshän relating to Such appointments would
rest
1
In 7492159
: printed for house of femin
CAPTAIN
SERVICES
OF
WILLIAM
OF THE
forming
STEVENS,
LAND TRANSPORT CORPS.
Enlisted in the 49th Foot on the 18th April, 1834. Served in India and China (Medal) near 10 years, nine of which as a Non-Commissioned Officer, and purchasing his discharge as Color Serjeant, 15th December, 1843.
Served under the Magistracy of Middlesex near 11 years as Statistical Clerk, (also a pensioned Service, and governed by Regulations, sanctioned by the Home Department) and was discharged at his own request, 23rd February, 1855, (vide Certificate annexed).
Re-Enlisted in the Land Transport Corps, 24th February, 1855, and promoted from the ranks to Lieutenant, 24th April, 1855. As Acting Quarter Master—clothed, armed and equipped for the Field the Ist Levy of 2000 men, in addition to organizing the II. Division of 200 men, receiving the personal thanks of Captain Mundell, 96th Regiment, for the effective state in which they were handed over to his command, and while under orders to proceed to the East, 10th June, 1855, Telegraphed from Plymouth not to embark, being selected by his Commanding Officer to Recruit for the 2nd Levy, on account of the zealous and effective manner in which he had discharged the very arduous duties of Quarter Master, unassisted, and without extra pay, toiling from early morn till late at night—(Vide extract from Colonel Napier's note appended hereto). Raising in London the unprecedented number of 2200 Recruits (Note 1), in three months, and honorably mentioned to the Adjutant General as having performed that duty highly satisfactorily, not a single instance of a complaint having been advanced out of so numerous a body.
Rejoined the Depot at Horfield Barracks, Bristol, 30th November, 1855, and assumed command and payment of near 800 men till embarkation; attending at the ports of Plymouth and Portsmouth as Embarking Officer on several occasions (regimentally) during the months of December, January, February and March. Promoted to a Captaincy on the 25th January, 1856, and owing to the exigencies of the Service shortly after appointed Paymaster, and proceeded overland to the Crimea, on the 9th April, 1856, with 24 hours notice only, joining the 4th Battalion at Sebastopol, and returning to England the 6th August, 1856. Among the earliest to render his accounts, eventually audited without a single disallowance. On the reduction of the Corps was placed upon the Half-pay List, 1st April, 1857, for three years, being the only promotion from the ranks placed upon the temporary List (NOTE 2), although having enlisted prior to others in the same Corps, who had little or no service, and who likewise had not discharged so many and important duties, viz. :-The raising of 2200 men during the Russian War, and equipping the 1st Levy of a like number with such extraordinary speed, so that near 2200 men, Embarked in about three months from date of joining the Depots.
A Board of Claims has been sitting in London for a Year past, to investigate the demands of the Men of the Land Transport Corps, before which not a single claim has been advanced against Captain Stevens, either in his capacity as a Quarter Master, Recruiting Officer, Captain of a Division, or Pay Master, as per following Certificate
"This is to Certify that no claims have been brought against Captain Stevens, late Pay Master, 4th Battalion, Land Transport Corps, during the time I have been President of the Board of Claims."
Great Queen Street, Westminster,
Board of Claims,
19 January, 1858.
(Signed)
H. FRENCH,
Colonel and President.
Appended are a few Testimonials in support of past Services and Claims upon the Government for a just consideration,
No. 1.
"I have much pleasure in Certifying that Mr. W. Stevens served in the 49th Regiment for 10 Years, and during a part of that time the Regiment was under my personal command, and I had many opportunities of observing his conduct and character generally. I considered him highly trustworthy, exact, and diligent in the performance of his duties, and altogether a respectable Man. He was discharged by purchase in the rank of Colour Sergeant."
United Service Club, 2nd May, 1854.
(Signed)
E. F. MORRIS, Colonel,
H. P. Unattached, late Comdg. 49th Foot.
NOTE 1—Lieutenant Colonel Frazer of the 6th and Lieutenant Colonel Somerset of the 7th Foot sold their Commissions on return from the Cape and the Crimea, and as Civilians raised each 1000 men, receiving the Command of the respective Battalions above named for such service. These Gentlemen had in addition to the ordinary Levy money, the gift of ten Ensigns, each valued at about £4500, while Captain Stevens raised more than the number of the two Battalions, with only the same Levy Money, and solely by his own exertions, effected in the same period, yet awarded Temporary Half-pay for a similar, and in fact greater service, during the Crimea War.
NOTE 2.—Lieutenants James and Edwards, Cornets Malley and Pegus, and others from the Police and Commissariat never in the Service.