LATE MR BOSWORTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 115, 12 June 1909, Page 6

LATE MR BOSWORTH.

AN ADVENTUROUS CAREER. The lntc Mr. William IT. Bosworth, who died at New Plymouth on Wednesday evening, had a most adventurous life. Born' in Northampton 84 years ago, lie joined the 49th Regiment of foot at Coventry on 14th June, 1841, and sailed for China in the following November, talking part in the first Chinese war (1841-2). He joined the 57th, Regiment in 1853 as a volunteer for nictive service in South Africa. The regiment, however, was not wanted,, the threatened trouble blowing over.' Besides' China, bis other foreign service ;n----cluded garrison and field work in India (18-13), lonian Islands, Crimea, Malta, Aden, Indian Mutiny, and New Zealand. He had six medals—viz., China, 1841-2; Crimea, with two clasps; Inkerman and Sevastopol; also the Turkish medal for the snme campaign; New Zealand longservice and good-conduct, and the medal "For Distinguished Conduct in the Field." At the time hj» was awarded the last-named medal it was! the highest award obtainable for gallantry in the Army, the order of the Victoria Cross not being then instituted. It was conferred on him for cool and gallant conduet in the attack on the Redaa, 18th June. 1855. Sergeant Bosworth was one of the four hundred men of the 57th who formed the forlorn hope to lead the assault on the great Redan, was the only survivor of a party of four who. under a murderous fire, carried the Ibody of Brigadier-General Sir John Campbell, .who .had command of the storming party, to the trenches from the advanced .position taken up by the British troops on that memorable but disastrous day. Two of his comrades were shot dead and the other was mortally wounded. When the remnant of the assaulting party was re-formed it was found that all the officers and noncoms, .of ?>o. 5 Company of the rcgi-' nient, with the exception of Sergeant Bosworth, were either killed or wounded, and for some days he was in- command of hia compnny, all his seniors having been swept away in this assault. In the "Historieal Records of the 57t'hi Regiment," edited by Lieut.-Gencral H'. J. Warre, C.8., the following appears in the brigade orders:—"The cool and gallant condiiiet of Sergeant Bosworth deserves spedinl fncntion; he crossed and rccrosscd the fatal ground in front of the Redan in the vain hope of obtaining reinforcements, iwlilcdi the failure of the first attack rendered it impossible to afford." General Warre, C.8., in tn official letter written to Mr. Bosworth in 1885, among other things said: "It is just thirty years this very day sl"nee you so greatly distinguished .yourself, and, though I well remember the valuable service yon rendered on that memorable day, you must remember that, in spite of all our exertions, we were unsmt'cs'sful." The 57tli next saw active service -in quelling the Indian Mutinv. Here Mr. Bosworth was attached to Sir Hugh Rose's brigade, and was placed in charge of the depot at Mallagum as issuer of stores, etc., to flying columns anting in that part of the country. From India (be regiment sailed for New Zealand, landing at New Plymouth, via Auckland, on 4th June, 180 l', in time to participate, in the latter stages of the Waitarn campaign. At this time Sergt. Boshvor.Ui was attached to the headquarters staff in New Plymouth, ind was soon afterwards appointed garrison sergeant here. In ISO 4, after a service of 23 years and 50 days in various parts of the world. Mr. Bosworth left the Army and received the appointment of governor of the New Plymouth gaol. This position he honorably hold for twe-.nl.y-oiie years, finally retiring into pnvn-lc life in ISSS. The deceased .|,„ycM l.wo sons and two daughters (Mrs, Doel;Mrs. J. Tlseli). The .funeral takes place on Sunday, to allow of his sons being present,