WOOD Joshua
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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.

NAME: Joshua WOOD | Name variations: Woods. |
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Birth Date and Place | c. 1803 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England [WO97-652-78]. |
Baptism Date and Place | |
Marriage Date and Place | |
Spouse | |
Children | |
Occupations | Wheelwright [WO23-149]. |
Land Acquisition in WA | |
Death Date and Place | 6 Apr 1876 Bunbury, Western Australia [WABDM Reg. #8851; WO23-59-8]. |
Burial Date and Place | April 1876 Bunbury Pioneer Catholic Cemetery [Oz Burials]. |
Death, Funeral, Obituary Notices | None. |
Will and Probate | None. |
BRITISH ARMY | |
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Regiment | 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment. 25 Mar 1821 transferred at Portsmouth, Hampshire to 51st (2nd Yorkshire West Riding, The Kings Own Light Infantry) Regiment. |
Soldier No. and Rank | #??? Private (84th). #290 Private (51st). |
Attestation Date and Place | 5 Jan 1820 underage at 17 years – place unknown. |
Physical Description | Height: 5 ft. 6¾ ins. Complexion: fair. Eyes: blue. Hair: sandy [WO23-149]. |
Service/Campaigns | Ionian Islands 3 Jul 1821 to 12 Jun 1834. Australian Colonies 2 Aug 1838 to 31 Mar 1847 [WO97-652-78]. |
Promotions | None. |
Medals, Clasps and Badges | Good Conduct Badge and Pay 2d. per diem from service in Van Diemen’s Land [WO12-6202-55]. |
Casualty/Medical | Worn out and unfit to serve in India [WO97-652-78]. |
Regimental Courts Martial | None. |
District Courts Martial | None. |
General Courts Martial | None. |
Arrival Australian State: Ship and Date | Elphinstone. Embarked 2 Aug 1838, Deptford, London [WO25-3503]. Arr. 29 Dec 1838 Port Jackson, NSW. Dep. Kingston, Dublin, Ireland 8 Sep 1838 [DPS]. Marian Watson. Arr. 15 Jan 1839 Hobart, VDL. Dep. 8 Jan 1839 Sydney, NSW [Hobart Courier; WO12-6200-332]. |
Arrival Western Australia: Ship and Date | Runnymede 25 Jun 1840 from Hobart [TROVE]. |
Military Postings within Western Australia | Perth HQ Regimental Duties 29-30 Jun 1840 to 31 Aug 1840. Ellens Brook 1 Sep 1840 to 31 Mar 1843. Perth HQ 1 Apr 1843 to 30 Sep 1843. Bunbury 1 Oct 1844 to 30 Jun 1846, Perth HQ 1 Jul 1846 to 31 Jan 1847 inc. Garrison Duty (Jan). On furlough until discharge 31 Mar 1847. [All sourcing from WO12-6202 TO 6208]. |
Courts Martial in Western Australia | None. |
Discharge Date and Place Admitted to Pension | 31 Mar 1847 Perth, Western Australia [WO97-652-78]. 24 Aug 1847 Perth, Western Australia [WO23-59-8]. |
Age at Discharge | 44 years. |
Length of Service | 26 years 86 days. |
Chelsea Pension Reference | WO97-652-78. |
Pension District | Perth, Western Australia. |
Pension Amount | 1/2d. per diem. |
Notes on Pension Payment | Paid 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 Wood 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]. |