Description
Title: A Colonial Regiment – New Sources relating to the New South Wales Corps 1789-1810
Author: Statham, Pamela
Condition: Near Mint
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 1992
ISBN: 0646081101
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 389 pages
Comments: A highly detailed and now scarce account of the New South Wales Corps between 1789 and 1810.
The New South Wales Corps (a.k.a. The Rum Corps) was formed in England in 1789 as a permanent regiment to relieve the New South Wales Marine Corps, who had accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose, consisted of three companies.
Due to the remoteness and unpopularity of the posting, the New South Wales Corps were composed of officers on half pay, troublemakers, soldiers paroled from military prisons, and those with few prospects who were gambling on making a life for themselves in the new colony.
The regiment began arriving as guards on the Second Fleet in 1790. Major Grose arrived in Sydney in 1792 to take command and assume role of Lieutenant-Governor of the colony. A fourth company was raised from those Marines wishing to remain in NSW under Captain George Johnston, who had been Governor Phillip’s aide-de-camp.
Unknown signature on the half title page.
