McGLADE Peter

In 1755 the 51st Regiment of Foot was renumbered (from the 53rd). It received a county designation in 1782, as the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Foot. In 1821 the regiment received royal status, becoming the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding, The King’s Own Light Infantry) Regiment. During the early 19th century the regiment served in the Napoleonic and Peninsular campaigns and served at Waterloo in 1815.

Between August and December 1837, six convict ships left Britain with 51st Regiment guards on board bound for New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. The regiment continued to arrive in Australia as convict guards, and in larger numbers on troopships, during the decade that followed. Some of these ships are profiled on the Ships page. Arguably the most famous of the journeys made by 30 officers and men was on the ship Buffalo. That story can be read on the Anecdotes page.

In June 1840, a detachment of 145 officers and men arrived in Western Australia on Runnymede from Hobart; a further 46 men arrived on Eudora and Champion between 1841 and 1844. Thirty three 51st men took their discharge and settled in Western Australia; one of them was this man featured on the right.

The 51st in Australia left Hobart for India on Java in 1847. Its last port of call was on 15th March 1847 when the balance of the detachment in WA boarded Java on her way to Calcutta.

51st Regiment at Waterloo
NAME Peter McGLADEName variations: Maclaid. McGleade. Mcgleade.
Birth Date and Placec. 1808 Killiavey [sic], Killeavy, County Armagh, Ireland [WO97-649-24].
Baptism Date and Place
Marriage Date and Place20 Mar 1838 St Mary the Virgin Church, Chatham, Kent (as Mcgleade) [E&WBDM Medway Vol. 5, Page. 318].
SpouseElizabeth BROWN.
ChildrenEmily Maclaid b.1843 (d.1843) Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#320].
John Maclaid b.1844 Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#490].
*Jane Maclaid b.1848 (d.1848) Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#1102].
*Elizabeth Maclaid b.1848 (d.1848) Perth, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#1102].
*not known if twins or error in registration index records.
All the children’s births were recorded as Maclaid.
OccupationsLabourer [WO-97].
Police Constable, Fremantle 1851-1853 [PASH Index].
Night Warder, Hospital Assistant, Convict Establishment 1853 [BARK p.137].
Town Police, Fremantle 1861[Perth Gazette 17 Dec 1861].
Land Acquisition in WA
Death Date and Place08 Sep 1860 Fremantle, Western Australia [WABDM Reg.#1548].
Burial Date and Place09 Sep 1860 Skinner Street Cemetery, Fremantle, Western Australia [Fremantle Local Studies DB].
Death, Funeral, Obituary Notices
Will and ProbateNone.
BRITISH ARMY
Regiment51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding, The Kings Own Light Infantry) Regiment.
Soldier No. and Rank#541 Private [WO-97-649-24].
Attestation Date and Place17 Feb 1826 Liverpool, England.
Physical DescriptionHeight: 5 ft. 4¾ ins.  Complexion: dark. Eyes: hazel. Hair: dark.
Service/CampaignsIonian Islands 2 years.
Australian Colonies 7 years.
PromotionsNone.
Medals, Clasps and BadgesTwo Good Conduct Badges 2d. per diem pay.  Awarded prior to arriving in Australia.
Casualty/MedicalLong suffered from chronic Rheumatism.  Rupture on left side and worn out. Unfit for service in India.
Regimental Courts MartialNone.
District Courts MartialNone.
General Courts MartialNone.
Arrival Van Diemen’s Land: Ship and DateLayton. Embarked 22 Jun 1839, London [WO12-6201-205].
Arr. 07 Dec 1839 from Portsmouth, England dep. 13 Jul 1839 [DPS].
Arrival Western Australia: Ship and DateRunnymede 25 Jun 1840 from Hobart [TROVE].
Military Postings within Western AustraliaPerth HQ 25 Jun to 31 Dec 1840 inc. 6 days Regimental Duty (June), 4 days Government Employ (Oct), On Command (Dec).
Government Employ Jan 1841, Garrison Duty Feb 1841, Perth HQ Mar 1841.
Perth HQ 1 Apr to 30 Nov 1841, inc. Garrison Duty (Oct).
York 1 Dec 1841 to 31 Aug 1843.
Perth HQ 1 Sep 1843 to 31 Jan 1845, inc. Garrison Duty (Oct 1843, Jan, Feb, Dec 1844). On Command Jan 1845.
Perth HQ 1 Feb 1845 to 30 Nov 1845 inc. Garrison Duty (Aug), Government Employ (9 days Oct).
On Command 1 Dec 1845 to 31 May 1846.
Perth HQ 1 Jun 1846 to 11 Mar 1847, inc. Garrison Duty (Oct 1846).
Hospitalised 4 days Nov 1844; 6 days Sep 1845; 17 days Aug 1846).
[All sourcing from WO12-6202 TO 6208].
Courts Martial in Western AustraliaNone.
Discharge Date and Place11 Mar 1847 Perth, Western Australia [WO97-649-24].
24 Aug 1847 Examination of Invalid Soldiers [WO23-149].
Age at Discharge39 years.
Length of Service21 years 54 days.
Chelsea Pension ReferenceWO97-649-24
Pension DistrictWestern Australia.
Pension Amount1s. 0d. per diem.
Notes on Pension PaymentPaid by Regiment to 31 Mar 1848.
Paid by Commissariat to 30 Jun 1851.
Thereafter transferred to Captain Bruce’s Pay List.
There is nothing to suggest McGlade was taken onto EPF strength, this was merely a means of receiving his pension entitlement as a military pensioner once Perth became a Pension District with the arrival of Captain John Bruce and the EPF men [WO22-248-39].