The Regiment's first POW?

Chudleigh’s Regiment of Foot (later the 34th Foot and then The Border Regiment) went to Vigo in 1719 accompanied by ‘Gentlemen Volunteers’. It was a way of getting military experience without buying a Commission or when waiting to buy one.

Richard Wollaston, volunteer, became the Regiment’s first recorded prisoner of war.

Richard is described by his father (also Richard) as “something wild” and that he went to Vigo with “Colonel Chudley’s (sic) Regiment.” The Vigo Expedition took place during the first of several wars in which Spain attempted to regain territory lost by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It was retaliation for Spanish support for a Jacobite invasion of Britain earlier in the year. The expedition was a complete success, so how was Richard, and the “several others” who were taken, separated from the rest of the army and captured?

Perhaps some freelance scavenging – looting – away from the main body?

Rights of POWS

Before the Geneva Conventions the lot of a POW could be a very unpleasant . High status individuals could be ransomed and officers might be allowed parole, others might held in unhealthy locations, impressed into their captors armed forces or even killed. Richard Wollaston was impressed into the Spanish Artillery.

Petition

Richard’s father was a Member of Parliament. He appealed, that is wrote a ‘Memorial’ to John Carteret, the 2nd Earl Grenville. Granville was the Secretary of State for the Southern Department for help in getting his son released.

“…Richard Wollaston, a young man, and something Wild went over with Colonel Chudley’s (sic) regiment in the late expedition to Vigo, commanded by my lord Cobham, and was there taken prisoner with several others, and after seven months imprisonment, living up on bread and water he was forced into the Spanish Service and was tryd twice for his life for endeavouring to escape; and was after chain’d to others almost naked and march’d from that part of the country through all Spain to Barcelona where he is now a common soldier – La Capane de Carlon Cap de Regimento de Real Artilaria in Barcelona. Memorialist [his Father] not having heard of him for three years concluded him to be dead, till last week by shipp (sic) Receiv’d the account from him wherein he begs for a discharge. both in relation to his Religion and Service to his King and Country. Therefore the Memorialist Humbly Desires your Lordships Assistance to get him Discharged that he may return to England, having had a Liberal education, and always Zealous Attached to his Majesty's person and Government.”

The letter at Kew has:

“a letter wrote upon it to Mr Stanhope at Madrid.”

Sadly we do not know the outcome of that letter.

The Editor