WAR VETERAN DIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3046, 5 April 1917, Page 6

WAR VETERAN DIES

COIOUR-SERGT. SAMUEL ATKINS

MARCHED WITH HAVELOCK

INTO LUCKNOW

Colour-Sergeant Samuel Atkins, late of the 2nd tieafortk Highlanders, who died on Tuesday, was probably the oldest war veteran in New Zealand. After serving for thirty-one and a half years in the Imperial Army, he retired, and for fifty years past 'had been in

receipt of an Imperial pension. The veteran soldier was born in the historic town of Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire, and when eighteen years of,age lie accepted the '.'Queen's shilling," joining the 11th ltogiment of Foot at Weedoii, Northamptonshire, v Thro years later he was transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders, then at Chatham, and tor the next fourteen years saw very strenuous active service in India and Persia. In 1857 lie' served with his gallant regiment throughout the Persian War under Sir James Outrani, and with that leader was hastened back to India; on receipt of the news that the uativo regiments bad- mutinied. The regiment was attached to Havelock's relief, column, and Colour-Ser-geant Atkins, a young giant .of immense physical strength, was selected as one of the guard of colours (which were then carried by an officer), and it was in tho ensuing fight that he was severely wounded in'the shoulder. Previous to tho relief of Lucknow, he had fought through the passage of the Ganges at Cawnpore, and was concerns ed in tho defence of the Residency at Alumbagh, under Sir James Outram. In Persia he took part in the Battles of Kooshab and Mohumera, and also in the Ahwuz Expedition. ColourSergeant Atkins also served through tho campaign in JRohilcund. and took part in the Battle of Bareilly, under Sir Colin Campbell (afterwards Lord Clyde)! A large photograph in the ppsj session of the family of Mr. Atkins in his regimentals, shows the deceased i.as a man of exceptionally fine physique, and his bright, manly bearing is emphasised by a full-flowing beard, which was as of the soldier of sixty years ago as the clean-shaven face is of the "Tommy" of to-day. On liis breast he'is wearing four medals —medal' and clasp for Persia, medal for India with two clasps (for the defence and rolief of lLuckriow), medal for long service and good conduct, and medal for meritorious service in the field (which carried with it an Imperial pension).

On leaving the Seaforths after twenty-one years' service he was presented with a eilver cup by the officers, n.c.o.'s, and men of the Sixth Company. Subsequently he served ten and a half years as staff -sergeant of the Border Battalion, R.V., under Colonel Sir George Douglas (of Springwood Park, Kelso); and Major C. S. Plumraer (of Sunderland . Hall, Selkirk). Mr. 'Atkins Had been a resident of. AVellington' for forty-three years, having for the greater part of that time acted as nightwatchman at the Government Printing Office. His health had been failing for the past four or five years. Though he had lived in retirement for over a decade, lie never lost his interest in soldiering. It was always his greatest pleasure and pride that he had been a soldier and had fought for his Queen and country. To.his idea, there was no life to compare. with that of the soldier, even under the awful conditions they had to fight in India, and the East generally in the early days. As showing his great strength, he often related how on a forced march in the torrid ;heat men had .thrown away their rifles to get rid of tho great weight of them. I "He used' to beg'.of his men to cling to their arms at,all risks, and relates that at times Iβ had carried half a",dozen rifles of ;ired men, so that_they would not be lost to tho regiment when perhaps they were most needed. When Mr. Atkins joined the Army, the old'heavy "Brown Bess" (a flintlock rifle) was tho service arm. Sinoe then he Jiad known of forty-two patterns ,of rifles that havo been in use in the Army. Colour-ScTgeant Atkins leaves an rdult family, including two unmarried daughters, who reside in Wellington. ' ■ •