Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 99/397

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ARMY HISTORICAL RESEARCH

run the old warrior through the body with his sword. I, with seven others of our Regiment, was removed from Loodianah (to which place the wounded were conveyed from Aliwal, and where we left very many of our brave comrades, who were not sufficiently recovered to be removed) on the 6 th of March, and forwarded via the river Sutlej to Bombay, for the purpose of being returned to England. I arrived in the land of my nativity in September last, and was ordered to Chatham, where, after a medical examination, I was discharged with a pension of 9d per day. It may be as well to mention, that I was eight years and two months in the service, and for the last fourteen months preceding my discharge, drew good-conduct pay. I have been in two general engagements – Maharajpore and Aliwal, besides the memorable affair under Sir Harry Smith at Budhowal, where the cavalry, commanded by that gallant and valuable officer, Brigadier Cureton, took such a distinguished part in screening our poor fatigued, and worn-out infantry from the overwhelming numbers of the enemy on that eventful day, and which has been so well described in the letters which have this day appeared in your columns. I am a Man of Kent (being born within two miles of your office), and with the loss of my right fore-arm, and a wound in my shoulder, blessed at the age of 26 with a wide world to roam in, with a pension of a trifle more than 5s. per week, – for on going to draw my first month’s pittance a few days since, they deducted 5 per cent for some purpose or purposes to me unknown. 19 I should not have alluded so largely to my pension, but for an editorial remark which appears in your paper of Dec. 1, which is as follows: – ‘The gallant fellows who so nobly achieved a conquest over a well-disciplined warlike nation, have reaped in the gratitude of their countrymen an acknowledgement of the services they have rendered.’ – I fully believe our countrymen do appreciate the services our noble comrades have so lately rendered, but how far those who administer its rewards in current coin of the realm have carried out the principle, I leave your readers to judge.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, P. E., late in H.M.’s 16 th Lancers. London, 65 Charington-street, Somers Town, Dec 8, 1846.

19 At this period out-pensions were disbursed by collectors of excise, from monies they had collected in excise duty. Since the collectors were not employees of the Royal Hospital, they performed this function as a ‘favour.’ They therefore claimed a small sum for this service, which they deducted from the pensions they disbursed. This appears to be the deduction of which Eves complains. I am grateful to Andrew Cormack for clarifying this point.