The Irish Bomfords

Achmuty family

 

(1002) Arthur Ahmuty, son of John Ahmuty Esq

 

Notes from Clare Eagle (emails Apr 2009)

 

Arthur Ahmuty son of John Ahmuty Esq

        IOR Ref N/1 Vol 7 Folio 156 

            Born 22 Mar 1799 bapt. 28 Aug 1806, Garrison of Fort William son of John Ahmuty Esq

        IOR Ref N/1 Vol 37  Folio 275

        “Burial in the Chaplaincy, Station or District of Meerut in the Archdeaconry of Calcutta  Arthur Ahmuty at Meerut, Captain ???? 11^th Light Dragoons  Age 34  Revd Mr Whiting “

        TNA Ref: WO164/586

        “Royal Hospital Chelsea: Prize Records.   Return of Commissioned and non-Commissioned Officers, Trumpeters, Drummers, and Privates of His Majesty’s Service, who did not receive their Bhurtpore Prize money in India.  Staff, 11^th Light Dragoons, 16^th Light Dragoons, 14^th Foot, 59^th Regiment of Foot”  .

                Rank & Name:   ……………………..      Ahmuty, Arthur, Lieut 11^th Lt Dragoons

                Situation Held:  ……………………..       A.D.C. to Brig^r General Sleigh

                Amount in Calcutta Area Rupees  …..       4763/12/-

                To whom Paid  ……………………..       Paid his Bill in favor of Mr Neville endorsed to Messrs Alexander & Co”

 

Statement of Service  TNA Ref: WO25/783 Folio 306

“Statement of the Services of Lieut^t Arthur Ahmuty of the 11^th Regiment of Light Dragoons with a Record of such other Particulars as may be useful in case of his Death. 

Where born Sylhet, East Indies Date of Birth 22^nd March 1799 Age on his first Entrance into the Army Sixteen.

	Regiment			Full	Half	Battles, Dates, Regiment		Service Abroad
Ranks	Full Pay	Half Pay	Dates	Pay	Pay	Position & Commander	From	To	Station
Ensign	18th Highlanders	-	11 May 1815	By purchase	-	Aid-de-Camps to Brig Gen	June 1815	Dec 1815	Flanders
Cornet	21 Dragoons	-	24 April 1816	By paying the difference	-	Sleigh CB at the Siege of	Jan'y 1817	Aug 1817	Cape of Good Hope
Cornet	11th Dragoons	-	7 Aug 1820	By paying the difference	-	Bhurtpore 18 Jan 1826	Aug 1817	31 Dec 1829	Bengal
Lieut't	11th Dragoons	-	8 Sept 1824	By purchase	-	under the Command of Gen'l
						Lord Combermere

Service on full Pay  Abroad 13 yrs – 11 mo    At Home ,, yrs 11 months

Total up to 31^st December 1829  Abroad 13 yrs – 11 mo    At Home ,, yrs 11 months”

 

Mayday writes:

·         Ref.: WO25/1436)

Statement of Service (WO25/783 Folio: 306)

The Statement of Service summarises Arthur Ahmuty’s service since he joined the army in 1815 and the time the Statement of Service was drawn up in 1829.  This document shows that Arthur Ahmuty  was born in ‘Sylhet, East Indies’ on 22 March 1799, and that he was 16 years old on his first entrance into the army.

His first commission, by purchase, and was that of an Ensign in the 78^th Highlanders Regiment.  He was with this regiment from 11 May 1815 until 24^th April 1816. (Curiously the Colonel of the 78^th Regiment at this time was Lt-Gen. Sir Samuel Auchmuty, GCB.)  He saw service abroad with this regiment between June 1815 and December 1815 in Flanders.  The Battle of Waterloo took place on 18 June 1815.  However, according to the www.britishbattles.com website, the 78^th Regiment were not involved, so he was probably posted shortly after the battle was won or was elsewhere in Flanders at the time.

On 24 April 1816 he was made a Cornet in the 21^st Dragoons ‘by paying the difference’.  In January 1817 he was posted to the Cape of Good Hope, until August 1817 when he was posted to Bengal, where he was until 31^st Decenber 1829 when this Statement of Service was created.

Arthur Ahmuty transferred as a Cornet to the 11^th Dragoons on 7 August 1820 ‘by exchange paying the difference’. And then in September 1824 he was promoted to Lieutenant ‘by purchase’.

The document also mentions that Arthur Ahmuty was Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier General Sleigh CB at the siege of Bhurtpore 18 [Dec 1825] to Jan 7 1826 under the command of General Lord Combermere.

The document also shows that he was not married nor did he have any legitimate children.  Lastly, it records that he served 13 years 8 months abroad and 11 months at home all on full pay.

Casualty return (WO25/1436)

This document is the Casualty Return for the 11^th Light Dragoons covering the period from 31 October to 31 December 1833.  This document lists all the casualties incurred by the regiment within the above period.  I have copied the entry for Arthur Ahmuty.  This consists of the double page official record plus the original Will, which has been pasted into the book.  The recorded information is as follows:

 

 

 

Casualty Return TNA Ref: WO25/1436

For  “11^th Regiment of Lt Dragoons from 1^st Oct to 31^st Dec 1833

Arthur Ahmuty, Lieutenant, Died 10^th Nov 1833 at Meerutt, Single, Effects and Credits paid to Oudeeran Native Woman under Will viz. Authenticated Copy Accompanying.  Next of Kin, father John (whose) latest known residence County Gloucester, Parish Cheltenham.”

 

The 11th Light Dragoons at Waterloo and Bhurtpore www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/11thltdragoons.htm

Waterloo

“With the return of Napoleon in March 1815 the war with France resumed and the 11th arrived at Ostend on 2nd April. They were in Vandeleur's brigade with the 12th and 16th and had an unprecedented strength of 947 men. They came under heavy attack at Quatre Bras but did not suffer badly. On the 18th June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo began after a terrible night of torrential rain. It was a frustrating morning for the British cavalry who had to stand and watch an infantry battle. Against Wellington's wishes, the heavy cavalry made a brilliant charge that was spoiled by it's failure to re-form. The 11th under the command of Lt Col Money were sent into action when it looked as if the enemy were breaking up. They broke a French infantry square and carried on with the pursuit of Napoleon's fleeing soldiers.

Wellington entered Paris in triumph on 7th July escorted by the 11th and others. The regiment bivouacked on the Champs Elysees and became part of the army of occupation in France and Belgium. On 20th November they eventually arrived home after 3 years on the continent. A new regimental depot was set up at Maidstone.

They did not have much time to enjoy their home country because in February 1819 they were shipped off to India. They were stationed at Cawnpore and Meerut and did not see serious fighting until 1825 when they took part in the siege of Bhurtpore. This was an apparently impregnable fortress garrisoned by 15,000 anti British Indians under the leadership of Doorjun Saul. The British, led by Sir Stapleton Cotton, now Lord Combermere, had 30,000 men. The enemy were aided by a British deserter, Bombadier Herbert who instructed the Indian artillery making them more effective. The cavalry was commanded by General Sleigh, an ex-11th officer, the brigade was commanded by Col M Childers, also ex-11th, and the regiment itself by Major Bellingham Smith.

After a five week siege, the mining endeavours of the engineers and bombardment by the artillery had weakened the defences enough for Combermere to order an attack. Bellingham Smith led 80 men and 2 Lieutenants into the fortress after an enormous explosion had created a breach big enough to storm through. The explosion killed many inside and some outsite the walls. Enemy resistance did not last long and large groups fled on horseback pursued by the 11th Light Dragoons. They took many prisoners and captured the unfortunate Herbert who was hanged from the nearest tree. The regiment's casualties were 2 men killed, one officer and 12 men wounded and 4 horses killed.” 

 

Will of Arthur Ahmuty

“Meerut, 10^th November 1833

I Arthur Ahmuty Lieutenant and Brevit …….. 11^th Dragoons being in a sound state of mind but weak in body declare this to be my last will and testament –

I commit my soul to God

I will and bequeath all my goods and chattels and that may remaining after the payment of my just debts to a native woman named Ougeeran with the exception of the sum of fifty (50) ruppes to Private John Smith of Capt Blundells Troup who has served me faithfully for a number of years.  the above property is to be sold and the proceeds appro……… in the manner deemed most advantageous by my executors for the benefit of the said native woman Ougeeran  and I  nominate my friends Major(?) Ruttons and Mr Henderson of the 11^th Dragoons my Executors

A Ahmuty Lt 11 Dragoons   ……………… Asst Surgeon 11^th Dragoons    Samuel F….  “