40th Regiment of Foot AKA 2nd Somersetshire Regiment

("lynsmum")

Michele.

According to The Times, the 40th Regiment were brought home by the transports Mary Shepphard, 905 tons (left Auckland 8 May 1866), and the Holmsdale, 1257 tons (left Auckland 17 Jun 1866). The Trevelyan is also mentioned.

02 Jul 1866, Mon. p.6 PLYMOUTH, Sunday The transport Mary Sheppard, with part of the 40th Regiment, was expected to leave Auckland early in May. The C battery of the 4th Brigade of Royal Artil- lery, under command of Captain Peile, were mbutting at Auckland for the purpose of transport to England in three vessels, names unknown.

03 Aug 1866, Fri p.10 ..yesterday at the dockyard, Portsmouth.. The Depot of the 40th Regiment previously disembarked from the Montezuma to await the arrival of the regiment from New Zealand.

10 Aug 1866, Fri p.7 PLYMOUTH, Thursday.- The hired transport Mary Shepherd, 905 tons, Captain Croot, belonging to Messrs. J. Lidgett and Sons, of Billiter-street, city, was off the port this morning, with troops from New Zealand, and has re- ceived orders to disembark them at Portsmouth. The troops consist of 358 men belonging to the 40th Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. S. Blyth. The other pbuttengers are Mrs. Blyth, Captain A. F. Fitzsimons, Mrs. Fitzsimons, Major L. W. Fisher, Lieutenants. Lloyd, Dudgeon, Burton, Phillips, and Cartwright, Ensigns Gomez and Pretor, and buttistant-Surgeon Stiles, all of the 40th Regiment; Major J. Paul, 65th Regiment, late Brigade Major in New Zealand; buttistant-Surgeon M. J. Jones, Royal Artillery, invalided; Rev. J. Bayley, Staff military chaplain, and Mrs. Bayley. The Mary Shepherd's cargo consists of 200 tons of kawri gum, 47 bales New Zea- land flax, 12 bales wool, 2 cases jewelry, 2 chests of curi- osities, including some bones of the moa, and sundry mer- chandise. She left Auckland May 8, rounded Cape Horn June 12, and crossed the Line July 6. Strong head winds were experienced for 14 days after departure. No ice was seen, and very little snow; frost occurred only on four days; near the Horn moderate winds prevailed. The Mary Shepherd spoke June 29, lat. 29 39 S., long. 27 30 W., the bark Silver Star; July 6, lat. 19 28 N., long. 28 30 W., the steamer Lord Elphinstone, 24 days from Lisbon, for plantay; 21st, lat. 30 14 N., long. 40 W., the ship Golden City, 78 days from Moreton Bay, for London; 24th, lat. 33 10 N., long. 40 W., the American bark J. W. Wood, from the Sandwich Islands for Bremen; and the French ship Marie, from Buenos Ayres for Antwerp; 25th, lat. 35 13 N., long. 40 30 W., the Hamburg bark Mbuttarene, from Rangoon for Llanelly; 27th, lat. 40 N., long. 38 30 W., the English ship Maiden Queen, 113 days from Shanghai for Liverpool; and July 28, lat 41 N., long. 37 w., the ship City of Tanjore, 92(?) days from plantay, for Havre. When the Mary Shep- herd left Auckland there was no ship in port, but the Holms- dale and Trevelyan were expected from Australia, to embark the remainder of the 40th Regiment and Captain Peile's Royal Artillery for conveyance to England.

11 Aug 1866, Sat p.12 The hired sailing transport Mary Shepherd, Capt. Croot, whose arrival in the Channel was announced in The Times of yesterday, anchored at Portsmouth yesterday and dis- charged at the dockyard the troops she has brought home from New Zealand, consisting of 358 men belonging to the 40th Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Col. F. S. Blyth, with their complement of officers, and officers be- longing to other regiments. The 40th marched, after dis- embarkation, into quarters in Portsmouth garrison. The Mary Shepherd was expected to sail again from Portsmouth last evening for the Thames to deliver her New Zealand cargo.

07 Sep 1866, Fri p.10 The hired transport Holmsdale, 1,257 tons, Capt. W. J. Ferris, belonging to Messrs. Shaw, Lowther, and Maxton, from Auckland, New Zealand, arrived in the Sound this morning. She brings the head-quarters of the 40th Regi- ment and 16 officers- viz., Lieut.-Col. L. L. K. Nelson, Capt. and Brigade-Major G. O. Bowdler, Capts. N. Arm- strong and J. S. Mansergh, Lieuts. A. M. Moller, M. Morphy, E. Stack, and C. F. Hulme, Ensigns F. H. King and J. D. Gregson, Adjt. J. T. Whelan, Paymaster H. C. Ryder, and Surgeon G. W. Peake, wife, and two children; Chaplain L. Parsly and Deputy Purveyor Adamson. Mr. Pring, pur- veyor, died on the pbuttage. Mrs. Hbuttard, widow of Col. Hbuttard, who was shot in the New Zealand war, is also a pbuttenger. The total of the troops is 16 officers, three ladies, 29 children, 229 non-commissioned officers and men, 31 women, 60 children, and two officers' servants. The Holms- dale sailed June 17th, rounded Cape Horn on the 30th, and crossed the line on the 47th day out. Off the Cape several large icebergs were observed. This ship left England seven months and 15 days since; she went to Melbourne, thence to Auckland, and back to Plymouth.

10 Sep 1866, Mon p.7 The hired sailing transport Holmesdale, 1,257 tons, Com- mander W. J. Ferris, arrived at Spithead on Saturday from New Zealand, last from Plymouth Sound, with the head- quarters of the 40th Regiment on board, under the com- mand of Lieut.-Col. L. L. K. Nelson. The troops will disem- bark this morning at the dockyard and join the left wing of the regiment in quarters in Portsmouth garrison.

I note that in the 2nd last article, the wives of the officers are "ladies", a description not afforded to the wives of the non-commissioned officers and men!

Best regards,

Martin Elliget London (ex Brisbane)