57th Regiment Soldier Enlisted Under an Alias
Can you help?
I am trying to find out the alias under which my great-grandfather Joseph Vardy (DOB 29th July, 1836 Nottingham) joined the British army. He enlisted in Dublin on 4th April 1955 after absconding from an apprenticeship in Nottingham aged 19.
He was a veteran of the Crimean war; Indian mutiny and the Maori uprisings with the 57th regiment (2nd battalion). He was promoted to Lance Corporal in India and Sergeant in New Zealand. He was wounded (shot in the leg) during an ambush at Kakaramea Swamp. Substantiation of these facts comes through primary sources.
I am unable to search ANY record without a surname. He may have taken the first name of Henry as he was known as Henry Joseph Vardy after he arrived in Australia in 1867.
Have you any suggestions?
In appreciation,
Joy
Did he live at Palmers Island nsw?
I think he did janilye as he had some kids in Maclean in the 1870s
Haven't been able to find him in NZ yet but will spend more time on it during the week
Henry Joseph Vardy 1836-1929
Yes. I have the right one. Maybe you could ask the people on this site for some help. The Diehards
OR as the last surviving Crimean war veteran in Lismore perhaps the Richmond River Historical Society are able to help you. Or what about the R.S.L
What a great biography. You would think he would have told his wife or one of his 10 children his alias. 6 of them survived him, I suppose that information died with them.
Northern Star (Lismore,)Tuesday 1 October 1929
MILITARY FUNERAL
Late Mr. H. J. Vardy
The funeral at Lismore yesterday of Mr. H. J. Vardy, the Crimean War
veteran whose death occurred on Sunday was largely attended. Members
of the Lisinore branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. paid homage to a soldier
of the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and the Maori War.
At the graveside an impressive ceremony was conducted by Pastor Noble,
of the Church of Christ, Lismore.
The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and members of the, Returned Soldiers
League— Messrs. D. Richardson, V.C., S. W. Hodge, T. Winterton, C. A. Wilson, P. J. Board, T. Walsh and K. Sullivan— were the pall bearers at the home of the late Mr. Vardy's daughter, Mrs. M. Hancock, from where the funeral procession moved off, and at the graveside. Mr. E. Roberts at the conclusion of the ceremony at the
cemetery sounded the Last Post.
He had a V.C. winner as a pall bearer! That's a huge honour - there's got to be more information out there.
I've found everything but the enlistment
Try Haslam his mother's maiden name
Diamond Wedding
hi Joy
can you verify the year in which he was injured so we can narrow it down
The 57th (under Major Butler & Captain Sir Robert Douglas) was the advance guard and was supported by the 50th & 68th. During the ambush at Kakaremia (aka Teawa) in March 1865 about 40 of the 400 natives were killed and of the approx 1400 soldiers 1 was killed and 3 wounded. They were:
Killed:
Wounded:
ALSO, Sergeant John Parry of the 18th Royal Irish, 2nd Battalion, was shot through the foot & Private Thomas Gill of the 70th was shot through the right hand at Waitotara. They arrived on the 'Gundagai' into Wanganui with the above 57th
There was another 'skirmish' in Feb 1866 when the 57th (about 300 of them), under Colonels Hassard (who was killed) and Butler (Major Von Tempsky was also there), at the capture of Otapawa Pah. The 57th also lead that advance.
The names of the 57th were (spelling could be a bit off):
Killed:
Wounded:
his being wounded in New Zealand was not recorded in his name of Vardy but the names of the above were the only ones recorded as being wounded or killed at Kakaramea
He was wounded twice in the right leg.
90th. Birthday Celebrations.
He was a volunteer when he was wounded. His enlistment with the 57th. was finished. Wounded about 1864 or 65.
ok thanks
Joy said "He was wounded (shot in the leg) during an ambush at Kakaramea Swamp"
The swamp ambush was in March 1865 and he didn't get a mention (as volunteer or otherwise) in the papers of the day but there were many, many volunteers so probably only recorded the wounded enlisted men.
Unusual that his enlistment had finished when the war was still in 'full swing'. The 57th left NZ about 1867 (don't quote me)
Read the birthday write up and photos, very interesting
that 90th birthday write-up is so interesting and full of lots of info on Henry's life that I am going to add it here for all to enjoy. Go to janilye's link above for photo
Northern Star, Friday 30 July 1926
MR. H. J. VARDY - CRIMEAN WAR VETERAN
NINETIETH BIRTHDAY - BRIEF REVIEW OF WAR RECORD
Mr. H. J. Vardy, of South Lismore, was the guest of honour at his daughter's (Mrs. M. Hancock) residence, North Lismore, yesterday, the occasion being the celebration of his 90th birthday. Letters and telegrams of congratulation were received from all over the district. Mr. Vardy comes of a long-living family, his father and his mother living to well into the seventies, while the collective ages of his five brothers and himself amount to 465 years.
The son of a storekeeper, Mr. H. J. Vardy was born at Hocknell, Nottinghamshire, Eng-
land, in 1836, and spent his boyhood days in that township. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to the engineering trade, his employers being Messrs. Steenson and Roston.
In 1854, when the Crimean War broke out, he enlisted for 10 years (not to exceed 12 years) with the British Army, and was attached to the 57th Regiment (the Old Diehards). Mr. Vardy tells many fine stories of his experiences in the battles of Inkermann, Sebastopol and Balaclava.
"On the 5th October, 1855," says Mr. Vardy, "the 63rd, 21st, and 57th regiments were engaged in that memorable battle against the Russians at Balaclava, when the battle continued for two days without a break, and when the old time 960 yards range Minya rifles, and batteries of cannons blazed forth practically unceasingly. Florence Nightingale was the angel among the soldiers during this battle and was loved by all of us."
In 1857 Mr. Vardy went to India to take part in suppressing the Indian Mutiny, and after three years' service his regiment was ordered to ship to New Zealand to participate in the Maori War. After four years as an enlisted soldier (as a non-commissioned officer) his term of enlistment concluded and he joined the army of 10,000 volunteers. Eighteen months later (after being wounded twice in the right leg) he was discharged from the army and thus ended a fine military career.
He then spent two years gold digging in New Zealand, and later on joined the detective force, reminiscences of which he loves to tell.
In 1867 Mr. Vardy came to Sydney, enroute to the Clarence River, and on 28th February, 1868, he was married at Ramornie station to Kathleen Smith, daughter of a mate of the Dunbar, who perished with his ship when she was wrecked at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
In 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Vardy and family came over to the Richmond, where Mr. Vardy was employed as engineer at Cottee and Sharpe's mill, and later at N.S. Wales Creamery, Smith's mill at Dunoon, and Hicks's bacon factory. It is now fifteen years since his retirement.
Mr. and Mrs. Vardy are still hale and hearty (although Mr. Vardy is a little camera shy) and are happy in the thought that they are the parents of a family of three sons, Charles (Tweed Heads), Henry (Wardell), and Clarence (Thirroul), and four daughters, Mrs. M. Hancock and Mrs. A. Maher (Lismore), Mrs. L. Browne (Bangalow) and Mrs. A. Maher (Murwillumbah).
They have also 43 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
WOW! I have just seen all these posts! THANKYOU!!!
RE: "He was wounded (shot in the leg) during an ambush at Kakaramea Swamp" a TROVE search (I"ll post it in full later...)suggests:1. three casualties James Bates, John Drummett, and himself. 2) although shot the bullet was extracted by the surgeon and he "continued" marching. So he may not be listed as a 'casualty."
There are discrepancies in the story about his campaign medals.
a) There exists a family photo in which he wears the 3 medals (Crimea/India/Maori) b) In a news article he states that his medals (and 'family trinkets' were stolen while he was on the NZ gold fields. This would be an obvious scenario to offer to anyone making enquires - including the reporter interviewing him.
c)News article 1909 reports "Mr Vardy being presented to Lord Chelmsford (Gov NSW) in Byron Bay wearing his medals
d) he MAY be wearing his medals in the 60th wedding anniversary photo taken (1929) e) no medals were found after his death
f) I have written to Lismore RSL wondering if they have a set in their archives. Close mates were often privvie to secrets
g) all campaign medals had the recipients name inscribed on the side of each. If we had them we would know his alias.
I will post two other TROVE newspaper searches which are interesting reads.
Two interesting articles on Henry Joseph VARDY: FIRST: Go to : http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/search?adv=y Go NSW Northern star 1908
Put in this stem: "Experiences of Sergt. Vardy.AN APPRENTICE WHO RAN AWAY TO ENLIST AS A SOLDIER"
SECOND: rEALLY INTERESTING!!! TROVE 1909 - "TOLD BY SERGEANT VARDY" My Great grandfather expressed philosophies typical of his time - accepting of colonial imperialism and it’s right to kill as well as slavery. Even after a distance of 50 years there is no hint of a revisionist philosophy in his words.
Confusing is...
He alludes to accepting his discharge at the end of service and joining the 'volunteers'. Other references assume he is still a member of the 57th regiment.
A search of Military archives using the following combination has not been fruitful:
DOB;29/7/1836 PlaceOB; Nottingham: date of enlistment 04/04/55. Nothing comes up with that combination of variables.
i have also searched a list of 57th Regiment records (emailed by NZ archivist)of those ranks taking their discharge in NZ and not returning the UK when the regiment sailed. None of the ranks of Corporal or sergeant + arrival ship + POB are possibilities. I have yet to work my way through approximations and other ranks.
His descriptions of events/places/casualties and dates certainly are more than plausible. I have little doubt that he served in these 3 campaigns - I JUST NEED TO FIND OUT UNDER WHAT NAME?