WOOD Joshua

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: Joshua WOODName variations: Woods.
Birth Date and Placec. 1803 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England [WO97-652-78].
Baptism Date and Place
Marriage Date and Place
Spouse
Children
OccupationsWheelwright [WO23-149].
Land Acquisition in WA
Death Date and Place6 Apr 1876 Bunbury, Western Australia [WABDM Reg. #8851; WO23-59-8].
Burial Date and PlaceApril 1876 Bunbury Pioneer Catholic Cemetery [Oz Burials].
Death, Funeral, Obituary NoticesNone.
Will and ProbateNone.
BRITISH ARMY
Regiment84th (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 Place5 Jan 1820 underage at 17 years – place unknown.
Physical DescriptionHeight: 5 ft. 6¾ ins.  Complexion: fair. Eyes: blue. Hair: sandy [WO23-149].
Service/CampaignsIonian Islands 3 Jul 1821 to 12 Jun 1834.
Australian Colonies 2 Aug 1838 to 31 Mar 1847 [WO97-652-78].
PromotionsNone.
Medals, Clasps and BadgesGood Conduct Badge and Pay 2d. per diem from service in Van Diemen’s Land [WO12-6202-55].
Casualty/MedicalWorn out and unfit to serve in India [WO97-652-78].
Regimental Courts MartialNone.
District Courts MartialNone.
General Courts MartialNone.
Arrival Australian State: Ship and DateElphinstone.  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 DateRunnymede 25 Jun 1840 from Hobart [TROVE].
Military Postings within Western AustraliaPerth 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 AustraliaNone.
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 Discharge44 years.
Length of Service26 years 86 days.
Chelsea Pension ReferenceWO97-652-78.
Pension DistrictPerth, Western Australia.
Pension Amount1/2d. 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 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].