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Governors Guard of Light Horse

Whilst not a Regiment of foot nor a British Regiment as such we felt these men deserved the same place in History as the soldiers from the British Army who served in Australia. Many of these men began there terms in Australia as convicts. Eventually pardoned they enlisted in the British regiments who were here at that particular time. Some enlisted from convict servitude while in England an sailed with the Regiments to Australia. Never the less they were soldiers. They came under the same strict military law as all soldiers. This is why we have listed them . Most would have settled in Australia. If a link appears on their name ,then they have their own page

Governor King raised the Bodyguard of Light Horse 31 Dec 1801 with Cpl Whalan in Command with 4 Privates. All were provisionally Emancipated convicts of good character.

All dates are from the Colonial Secretary's Office 1788-1825

Governors Bodyguard of Light Horse at 30 April 1810

WHELANCharles Sergeant

TOLLIS Thomas , Corporal

BRAMMER, Joseph. Former soldier, 73rd Regiment; of Parramatta Feb 11 . 1811 Soldier at Newcastle

. Re reply to his letter to the Governor (Reel 6003; 4/3492 p.100)

1812 Jan 14 Requesting a pass to enable him to go to the Hawkesbury to collect wages

due to him (Reel 6043; 4/1727 pp.364-5)

1814 Apr 30 Of the 73rd Regiment. Apprehended for desertion (Reel 6038; SZ758 p.490)

CLARK(E), George Private, Light Horseman 1810 Jan 3 On list of persons holding civil and military employment at Sydney and settlements adjacent (Fiche 3300; 2/8332 p.2)

CRADDOCK, Joseph William Private enlisted in the UK on 12 Aug 1796 from Savoy Military Prison.

Arrived Australia on 2 Jun 1797 aboard Ganges . Governors body guard, prior military service Transferred 73rd Regiment 24/4/1810 "

1816 Jan 1 Governor's Guard of Light Horse. On list of persons holding civil and

military employments in New South Wales and its dependencies (Reel 6045; 4/1734 p.11)

1816 Feb 10 Trooper. Paid from the Police Fund as a donation from Government for his late extra services on Governor's tour of inspection to the Interior (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.179)

1817 Mar 29, Apr 3 On list of persons belonging to 46th Regiment to be embarked on board "Kangaroo" for England (Reel 6046, 4/1737 pp.274, 276; Reel 6005, 4/3496 p.101)

1819 Jan 4 On list of new settlers and other free persons who are to receive grants of land in Jan 1819; at Prospect Common (Fiche 3266, 9/2652 p.56; Reel 6006, 4/3499 p.287)

LAWSON, George (Private). Governor's Guard of Light Horse 1810 Jan 3

On list of persons holding civil and military employment at Sydney and settlements adjacent (Fiche 3300; 2/8332 p.2) 1816 Jan 1

Governor's Guard of Light Horse. On list of persons holding civil and military employments in New South Wales and its dependencies (Reel 6045;

4/1734 p.12)

THORNBURY, Thomas Private THORNBOROUGH, Thomas alias THORNBURY. Per

"Ganges", 1797

1808-9 Member of Governor's Body Guard. Received absolute pardon from Lieutenant Governor Foveaux (Reel 6001; SZ760 p.133b)

1810 Jan Memorial (Fiche 3009; 4/1822 No.309)

1810 Jan 3 Private, Light Horseman. On list of persons holding civil & military employment at Sydney & settlements adjacent (Fiche 3300; 2/8332 p.2)

1810 Feb Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3168; 4/1847 p.221) n.d. On list of convicts who have received absolute pardons [Oct 1811] (Fiche 3292; 4/6974.1 p.78)

THOMAS, William Private Arrived 1802

1808-9 Member of Governor's bodyguard. Received an absolute pardon from Lieutenant Governor Foveaux (Reel 6001; SZ760 p.133b)

1809 Sep 6 On list of all grants & leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.186)

1809 Dec 30 On list of all grants & leases of town allotments registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3268; 9/2731 p.240)

1810 Jan 3 On list of persons holding civil & military employment at Sydney & settlements adjacent; as Private, Light Horseman (Fiche 3300; 2/8332 p.2)

1810 Jan 15 Memorial (Fiche 3009; 4/1822 No.306)

1810 Feb 2 Member of Governor's Bodyguard. Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3168; 4/1847 p.217)

1818 Jan 30 Former Trooper in Governor's Guard of Light Horse. Re passage to Van Diemen's Land for Thomas & family, land grant, assigned servants & victualling (Reel 6006; 4/3498 pp.14-5)

1818 Feb 4 To Allan re Thomas & his wife, passengers per "Duke of Wellington" to Van

Diemen's Land (Reel 6006; 4/3498 p.30)

Governors Bodyguard of Light Horse at 1 Oct 1811

WHELAN Charles Sgt
TOLLIS Thomas Corpral
ASHTON Private
CRADDOCK, Joseph Private
KEMPSON private (Kempton??)
LAWSON, George Private
THORNBURY, Thomas Private
EVANS Private

Lord Bathurst to Macquarie on 3 Feb 1814:

"The statement you have made of the utility of this body of men being employed I the Colony has induced me to sanction the increase of the establishment, as proposed by you to one sergeant, one corporal and twelve privates."

Macquarie's reply of 7 Oct 1814:

"The light horse or bodyguard being of very great use in going expresses and conveying my orders to the distant parts of the Colony, as well as on many other occasions, I feel much gratified by your Lordship's sanctioning the continuance of it and its increase to one sergeant, one corporal and twelve privates as formerly proposed by me."

Colonial Secretary’s Office; also listed as Whelan

1798 Pay List Captain Johnston's Company, NSW Corps Promoted to Corporal (PRO Reel/Source: 412)

1815 Apr 22 Governor’s Bodyguard. Paid from the Police Fund from the date of his transfer from the 73^rd to the 46^th Regiment (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.94)

1815 Pay List Sergeant Charles WHALEN (WHALAN) Promoted from Corporal 46th Regiment of Foot (South Devon) Pay List/Muster Roll (PRO Reel/Source: 3795)

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Last revised: August 17, 2007.