WAKEFIELD Joseph
This regiment was first raised in 1702 as Colonel Richard Coote’s Regiment of Foot. In 1751 it became the 39th Regiment of Foot. Between 1782 and 1807 it was known as the 39th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot. In 1807 it became the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot until the Army reforms of 1881.
In 1810-1814 the regiment served with distinction on active service in Spain against Napoleonic forces during the Peninsular War.It fought at Albuhera, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. It then served in Canada during the War of 1812. The regiment returned to Europe to join the occupying forces in France, before seven more years in Ireland from 1818.
In 1825 the regiment left Ireland to return to England in readiness to board convict ships as guards to New South Wales, Australia.Captain Joseph Wakefield, Sergeant John Hale, and 18 rank and file soldiers embarked with other troops on Woodman, Regalia, and Earl St Vincent, arriving in Sydney, NSW between April and August 1826.By November they were on board the brig Amity bound for King George’s Sound under the command of Major Edmund Lockyer, with among others, 23 convicts and two convict overseers.
This temporary military post later became the home of settlers at Albany, Western Australia.The final detachment of soldiers of the 39th in King George’s Sound returned to Sydney in May 1831. The regiment left for Madras between July and December 1832 and remained in India for the next 13 years, including the Coorg (1834) and Gwalior (1843) campaigns. In 1854, the regiment sailed for the Crimean War, serving at Sevastopol.
[Primary sources: The National Army Museum.
Chichester and Burges Short.
Illustration: Historical Record of the Thirty-ninth, or the Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot, by Richard Cannon].
| NAME: Joseph WAKEFIELD | Name variations: None encountered. |
|---|---|
| Birth Date and Place | 23 Mar 1793 Minworth, Warwickshire, England [Warwickshsire CRO Archives]. Parents: William and Elizabeth Wakefield. |
| Baptism Date and Place | 30 May 1793 Parish Church of St Nicholas and St Peter ad Vincula, Curdworth, Warwickshire, England [Warwickshire CRO Archives]. |
| Marriage Date and Place | 19 Jan1836 Holy Trinity Parish Church, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire [Warwickshire CRO Archives]. |
| Spouse | Anne WAKEFIELD. Buried 25 Apr 1840, Kamptee, Madras, India [N-2-20 p.258 British Library]. |
| Children | Ellen Catherine b. 20 Nov 1837 Bangalore, India [WO25-792-251]. Anne b. 25 Dec 1838 Bellary, India [WO25-792-251]. |
| Profession | Officer in the British Army. |
| Death Date and Place | 17 May 1840 Kamptee, Madras, India [WO25-792-251]. Cause of Death: Remittent Fever. |
| Burial Date and Place | 18 May 1840 Kamptee, Madras, India [N-2-20 p.259 British Library]. |
| Death, Funeral, Obituary Notices | The London Examiner 26 Jul 1840. |
| Will and Probate, Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Will: 23 Mar 1837, Roger Williams Gem, Attorney and Charles Dencer, Clerk, Witnesses. Probate with Codecil: 20 Sep 1841, J W Downes, Officiating Minister, Parish of St Philip, Birmingham [TNA PROB-11-1952-24]. |
| BRITISH ARMY | |
| Regiments | 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons transfer 20 Jul 2016 to 19th Regiment of Light Dragons/19th Lancers 21 Nov 1822 (on disbandment) to 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment. |
| Commision Date and Rank | 31 May 1814 Cornet, 13th Light Dragoons by Purchase. |
| Service/Campaigns | Waterloo, United Kingdom of Netherlands 1815. New South Wales, Australia 1826. Presidency of Madras, India 1832. |
| Promotions | Cornet to Lieutenant: 29 Aug 1815, 13th Light Dragoons without Purchase. Lieutenant to Captain: 29 Jul 1819, 19th Light Dragoons by Purchase. Captain to Major: 27 May 1834, 39th Regiment of Foot without Purchase. Major to Lieutenant Colonel: 10 Mar 1837, 39th Regiment of Foot by Purchase. |
| Medals, Clasps and Badges | Waterloo Medal. |
| Casualty/Medical | None. |
| Courts Martial | None. |
| Arrival Australia: Ship and Date | Woodman embarked 9 Nov 1825, Deptford, Kent, England [WO25-3503-50]. Departure: 6 Dec 1825, London. Arrival: 29 Apr 1826, Hobart, VDL [Hobart Town Gazette 6 May 1826]. Departure: 27 May 1826 Hobart, VDL. Arrival: 7 Jun 1826, Port Jackson, NSW. [Sydney Gazette 10 Jun 1826]. |
| Arrival Western Australia: Ship and Date | Amity. Departure: 9 Nov 1826 Port Jackson, NSW. Arrival 25 Dec 1826 King George’s Sound, New Holland [Lockyer SLWA 919.412/ALB]. Governor Phillip: Departure 10 Dec 1828, King George’s Sound, WA. Arrival 31 Dec 1828 Port Jackson, NSW [Sydney Gazette 1 Jun 1829]. |
| Military Postings within Australia | Sydney, NSW 7 Jun 1826 to 9 Nov 1826. King George’s Sound, WA 25 Dec 1826 to 10 Dec 1828 (Commandant from 2 Apr 1827). Sydney, NSW 31 Dec 1828 to Nov 1831 (inc. Acting Commandant Norfolk Island Feb – May 1829). Parramatta and Windsor Dec 1832 to Mar 1832. Sydney, NSW Apr 1832 to Oct 1832 when left for India. |
| Retirement/Resignation | 17 May 1840 died in service at Kamptee, Madras, India. |
| Age at Death | c. 47 years [deduced]. |
| Length of Service | c. 26 years [deduced]. |
| Statement of Services Reference | WO25/732/251 [TNA Statement of Services]. |
| Newspaper Notices | Statesman London 1 Jun 1814 – Commission Gent to Cornet. Caledonian Mercury 29 Jul 1816 (from London Gazette) – Transfer to 19th Light Dragoons. Commercial Chronicle London 10 Aug 1819 (from London Gazette) – Promotion Lieutenant to Captain 19th Light Dragoons. New Times London 22 Dec 1822 – Transfer to 39th Regiment from 19th Light Dragoons. Dorset County Chronicle 12 Jun 1834 – Promotion Captain to Major 39th Regiment. Age London 12 Mar 1837 – Promotion Major to Lieutenant Colonel. |
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
As with all data of this era, there are many anomalies especially with regard to dates of promotion. We have sourced War Office Statement of Services, Newspaper reports, London Gazettes and have found discrepancies. There are anomalies too in dates of birth and death. We do our best to interpret old documents and difficult handwriting.