History of the Royal Sappers and Miners, Volume 1 (of 2): From the Formation of the Corps in March 1712 to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal EngineersConnolly, T. W. J. (Thomas William John)
History
History of the Royal Sappers and Miners, Volume 1 (of 2): From the Formation of the Corps in March 1712 to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers
Connolly, T. W. J. (Thomas William John)
Great Britain. Army. Royal Sappers and Miners
as assistant-engineer; but at length, having worn himself out in the
service of the fortress, he returned to Penzance, and died in June,
1809, at the age of seventy-two.[40]
-----
Footnote 40:
Ince had a farm at the top of the Rock, which is still called by his
name. He had an only son, a clerk in the Commissariat department at
Gibraltar, under Commissary-general Sweetlove, who, together with his
wife, died in the fever of 1804, leaving an infant son, who was
brought up by his grandmother. The eldest daughter of Lieutenant Ince
was married at Gibraltar to Lieutenant R. Stapleton, of the 60th
Rifles, who exchanged with Lieutenant Croker into the 13th Foot, and
then sold out.
One day Mr. Ince was trotting at an easy pace up the Rock, when the
Duke of Kent, overtaking him, observed, “That horse, Mr. Ince, is too
old for you.” “I like to ride easy, your Royal Highness,” was the
subaltern’s meek reply. “Right, but you shall have another, more in
keeping with your worth and your duties;” and soon afterwards the Duke
presented him with a very valuable steed. The old overseer, however,
was unable to manage the animal, and he rode again to the works on his
own quiet nag. The Duke, meeting him soon after, inquired how it was
he was not riding the new horse, when Ince replied, he was unable
sufficiently to curb his spirit and tranquillize his pace. Ince then
prayed his Royal Highness to honour his servant by receiving the noble
creature into his stud again. “No, no, overseer,” rejoined the Duke;
“if you can’t ride him easily, _put him into your pocket_!” The
overseer readily understood his Royal Highness, and exchanged the
beautiful steed for his worth in doubloons.
-----
Among the various stirring incidents narrated by Drinkwater, is the
following, relative to the peculiar advantage of the boys of the
soldier-artificer company during the siege.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account