BERRY Samuel

Four line infantry regiments with the numeral 96 were raised and disbanded between 1761 and 1818.A fifth 96th was raised in February 1824 at Salford Barracks, Manchester. It was later allowed to carry the battle honours awarded its predecessor – Peninsular, Egypt and the Sphinx.

Over the next decade, the regiment spent eight years in Halifax, Nova Scotia and two in the West Indies. It then garrisoned in Britain until 1839, when it was tasked with guarding its first of many convict ships bound for Australia. Some of these are profiled on this website’s Ships page.

During the regiment’s time in Australia, the 96th served in Windsor, Sydney and Parramatta, New South Wales; Hobart and Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land; and Adelaide, South Australia. In VDL many of the troops were garrisoned at Port Arthur, the major convict prison. The Anecdotes page of this website will take you to a story of the ‘Military Outrage’ in Launceston in May 1845.

The 96th sent a detachment to New Zealand in 1844 where it remained during the New Zealand Wars until the end of 1846. Again, the Anecdote page will write of the regiment’s missing medal roll.

In February 1847, 111 officers and men arrived in Western Australia on Java from Hobart; a further two arrived on John Bagshaw in January 1849. Thirty seven of the Java men took their discharge and settled in Western Australia; one of them was this man featured on the right. Four of the men transferred to a detachment of the 99th Regiment to receive their final pay.

The 96th in Australia left for India in two waves. In February 1849 General Hewitt left Launceston and then in April the balance left Hobart on Ratcliffe, picking up the 96th detachment from Western Australia on its way to Calcutta.

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Charles Stuart, founder of the 96th (Queens Germans) Regiment during its fourth ‘life’.
NAME Samuel BERRYName variations: None encountered.
Birth Date and Place
Baptism Date and Place
Marriage Date and Place28 Sep 1853 Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia. NOT VERIFIED. This man was a migrant to South Australia in 1849, recorded as a commission agent. Further research required.
SpouseEllen THORNHILL – not verified. Further research required.
Children
Occupations
Land Acquisition in WA
Death Date and Place16 Jun 1893 North Adelaide, South Australia.  NOT VERIFIED. This man was a migrant to South Australia in 1849, recorded as a commission agent. Further research required.
Burial Date and Place
Death, Funeral, Obituary Notices
Will and Probate
BRITISH ARMY
Regiment96th Regiment of Foot.
Soldier No. and Rank#1101 Private.
Attestation Date and Place
Arrival Van Diemen’s Land: Ship and DateHindostan. 
Dep. 7 Oct 1840 Sheerness. Arr. 19 Jan 1841 Hobart (disembarked 30 Jan 1841) [WO12-9612-299].
Arrival Western Australia: Ship and DateJava 24 Feb 1847 from Hobart, embarked 27 Jan 1847 [WO12-9620-334].
Medals, Clasps and BadgesGood Conduct Badge 2d. per diem from 16 Aug 1847 [WO12-9622-82].
Military Postings within Western AustraliaPerth HQ 24 Feb 1847 to 31 Mar 1847 inc. ten days in hospital [WO12-9622].
Perth HQ 1 Apr 1847 to 31 Mar 1849 [WO12-9622].
Perth HQ 1-27 Apr 1849 [deduced as WO12-9624 Musters are not extant in WA].
Courts Martial in Western AustraliaNone.
Discharge Date and Place

27 Apr 1849 Perth, Western Australia – Conditional [WO28-266-97].
15 Feb 1851 Horse Guards, Westminster, London.
1 Jul 1851 Commandant, Perth, Western Australia.
Discharge with Gratuity of £9 2s. 6d.
[see right: General Orders WO28-266-132].

Age at Discharge
Length of Service