Crediton’s Waterloo Heroes are Remembered by local historian
on the Bi-Centenary of the famous battle.
Captain Charles Holman, Major Welsford, Sergeant John Manley and
Sergeant Samuel Darch, Privates Cross ad Holsgrove
Two hundred years ago the Battle of Waterloo was fought over
three days on the Belgian battlefield and the victory of Wellington’s troops
spelled the final downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte and the end of war with France
which had raged over 20 years across Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Over
55,000 men were killed or wounded in the battle and survivors were rewarded
with a Waterloo Medal and clasps of honour. Every following year on the 18th
June, “Waterloo Day” was held to celebrate the victory and commemorate lost
brothers in arms and this tradition continued more or less until the end of the
19th century.
Crediton had every reason to celebrate its Waterloo Day,
too, because our town boasted 20 survivors of the Peninsular and Waterloo
Campaign who would all meet together yearly for a grand meal and listen to
rousing military music as guests of one of Crediton’s bravest heroes, Captain
Charles Holman who was a Lieutenant in the 52nd Light Infantry at Waterloo and
after his return to Crediton he continued to lead the First Devon Militia and also
to become the Deputy Lieutenant of Devonshire.
The story of the role of the 52nd Light Infantry at Waterloo
is almost legendary because they are reputed to have withstood terrible
gunfire, cannon and grapeshot from the French Imperial Guard before they
executed a cunning manoeuvre through enemy lines and causing great disarray to
the French ending in the defeat of the Gardes and the capture of Napoleon.
Ensign Leeke of the 52nd wrote about the battle later, remarking that: ‘the
52nd endured a heavy bombardment, of which afterwards "the old
officers, who had served during the whole of the Peninsular War, stated that
they were never exposed to such a cannonade as the 52nd squares had to undergo
on this occasion for 2½ hours from French artillery ½ mile to the front".
While the 52nd's squares stood waiting, British artillery fired over their
heads.
After the advance towards the end of the battle Leeke, who
carried the King's colour, found a foot and a half of the pole wet with blood;
Lt. Charles Holman had three musket balls through his sword blade, and wore it
for many years with great pride through the streets of Crediton.’ ( D. H.
Parry) The 1/52nd were the largest
battalion at Waterloo, and one of the few British battalions operating at
full strength. Of the 1,130 men and officers present, 168 were wounded, and 38
killed.
Family Background of
Charles Holman (thanks to Dr Peter Selley’s excellent website http://medicalgentlemen.co.uk/aboutthedoctors/holmans)
In about 1803 a new doctor and his family arrived in
Crediton. The Holmans had come from North Tawton, about 10 miles away to the
west.
Henry Holman was born in Milverton, Somerset in about 1760,
the son of Andrew Holman, also a surgeon and apothecary. Henry had moved to
North Tawton when he was about 26 and had been living at “Stoats” with his wife
(Edith nee Holloway) and their seven children. In May 1794, he entered into a
bastardy bond of £300, indemnifying North Tawton Parish against the costs of
maintenance of Jane Cross’s child. "Jane Cross, spinster, great with
child" soon had a baby, William, who was baptised in North Tawton on 28
September 1794. In Crediton he was an ensign and later a lieutenant in Captain
Buller’s Volunteer Infantry.
After his wife Edith died in 1806, Henry returned to
Milverton where the following year he married Deborah Camplin, the daughter of
the Archdeacon of Taunton, and sister of his brother Charles’s wife.He died in
Milverton in 1817, aged 57.
Henry Holman's children:
His eldest son William Henry Holman (1789-1824) also worked
as a surgeon in Crediton. He married his cousin Sarah Elizabeth Holman. Their
son Charles Henry Holman was later a surgeon on the Isle of Wight. William
Holman died in Crediton aged 35.
Another son, Thomas Holloway Holman MD (1791 -1866), served
in the Royal Navy and later became a commander of the coastguard service. In
1819 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev John Rudall, who was for 43 years
Vicar of Crediton. Thomas Holman’s son, Rev William Henry Holman, born in
Crediton (1826-1901) was a Naval Chaplain, who in 1852-3 was the clergyman on
Pitcairn Island. (One of Fletcher Christian's great-grandsons, born in 1853,
was named William Henry Holman Christian, and baptised by Rev
Holman.) Another of Thomas's sons, John Rudall Holman, was a naval surgeon
who at the time of his death aged 59 in 1883 was Deputy Inspector General of
Hospitals and Fleets of the Royal Navy.
Charles Holman 1793-1866
Henry's third son,
Charles Holman (1793-1866) served in the 52nd Regiment of Foot and fought at
Waterloo. He then joined the 1st Devon Regiment of Militia and married
Elizabeth Pidsley of Great Wotton, Colebrooke in 1822; their daughter Mary
married Crediton solicitor William Cornish Cleave. In 1831 he was appointed
Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. He became paymaster of his Regiment in 1855.
Captain Holman was buried in Crediton.
The Last Charge of the 52nd Light Infantry by JC Sadler
The Battle of Waterloo
On 26 June, 1852 the Western Times reported that ‘ Captain
Holman as a Lieutenant in the 52nd Light Infantry at Waterloo gave
according to his annual custom a very handsome treat to the veterans of
Crediton on 18th June. The gallant captain although advanced in
years was still looking healthy and strong – every inch a soldier – and we are
sure he would be willing to enter the battlefield again to contend against the
enemies of his country.’ This was during the time of the Crimean War.
On 29th September 1855, the death of Crediton’s
Major Welsford at Redan was reported and
also mentioned that Crediton still had five living Waterloo veterans who have
retired on their pensions:-
Sgt. Darch, Privates Cross and Holsgrove,’ although we are
sorry to say that Holsgrove who is now over 80 years old has only 3/6 (three
shillings and sixpence or 18 pence) a week to live on. Captain Holman and Sgt Manley are still
serving their country in the First Devon Militia. Sgt Manley was recently seen
in Exeter proudly riding on horseback alongside the wounded heroes of the
Crimea.’
On 13th April 1861 he could still march many a
mile to the heart-stirring sound of military music according to the Western
Times.
!865 was the 50th anniversary of the Battle of
Waterloo and Waterloo Day was celebrated
in Crediton as in former years by several old veterans who had fought in that
memorable battle on 18th June. Captain Holman led the parade and it
was always his habit to show hospitality to his brothers in arms who residd in
the Crediton area, who had numbered a dozen. Of the old boys, only Darch and
Manley survive along with Holman now.
Sadly on the 8th December 1866, Charles Holman
died suddenly at home in the High Street of Crediton at the age of 74. Only the
previous day, he had been out walking through the town where he was well known
and respected. He was over 6’ 4” in height and usually wore his medal and
carried the sword with the cannon shot holes.
His obituary was carried in every
regional and national newspaper and referred to his exploits in the Peninsular
Campaign and Waterloo. He was present at the storming of Badajos and received a
medal personally from the King of Portugal and many clasps from the British
Government for his valiant service. The newspapers remarked that he was one of
the last of many in the neighbourhood who fought at Waterloo.
On 25th August 1868, Sgt Samuel Darch died in
Barnstaple aged 87 years and as a native of Crediton, his body was brought back
to be buried in Crediton Churchyard with bemedalled former soldiers and
pensioners Shopland, Galliver, Bailey, Trotman and Hubber leading the cortege.
On 25th April 1872, the North Devon Journal
reported that the final link with Crediton and Waterloo was lost with the death
of Sgt John Manley aged 83 years of
Magdalen Road in Exeter. He was described as a native Kyrtonian who had
enlisted in 1814 and fought at Waterloo and although he was wounded in his
right hand he went on to storm Cambray and was present at the occupation of
Paris receiving a share of the prize money for capturing the capital city. In
1817 he returned to Crediton and worked as a mason until 1834 when he was
appointed Sergeant of the Devon Militia in Exeter until 1856 when he retired. He
only received 9d or 4p a day until it was increased to 16d by his Colonel 9
months before his death. Manley who was twice married, left a widow and several
children and it was noted that he had provided a comfortable pension for his
widow.
Judi Binks
Sheraton House
Kennerleigh
Crediton EX17 4RS
2015
