Talk:Henry Vincent (gaoler)

Problems with page: what is the evidence Henry Vincent saw active service during the Napoleanic Wars?
I'm not sure if anyone will see this but this page needs a huge edit. It looks like a fourth grader wrote it.

71.53.15.126 (talk) 16:43, 5 May 2013 (UTC)missmaple


 * So fix it? Victuallers (talk) 18:47, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Richard Alan Fox emailed me the following: "I have recently had occasion to look again at the Wikipedia site for Henry Vincent who was prison superintendent on Rottnest Island from 1839 to 1848 and 1855 to 1866. This propagates the story that Vincent was injured and blinded in one eye while fighting Napoleon. I researched this some years ago and found that although Vincent had been in the regiment that had fought Napoleon, he joined it after they returned from abroad and spent his service in England and Ireland. His eye injury was not caused in battle and if he had been shot it was not recorded during his military service." Fox helped start the Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association in 1986. He is a Life Member and was President, twice.

Fox also contributed to the following in Fremantle Stuff: Henry Vincent was born 20 August 1797 in Broadwindsor, eastern Dorset (near Beaminster) as were all of his siblings, tho his parents John and Jane (nee Cleale) were married five miles away in South Perrott (on the River Parrett [sic]).

He joined the 18th (King's) Irish Regiment of Light Dragoons (Hussars) on 14 November 1817, aged 19, and was discharged - because of the ophthalmia which had made him nearly blind in his right eye - on 10 September 1821, at 23. His period of service was therefore after the Napoleonic Wars were over, and he did not lose his eye in battle.

UK National Archives has the following record: Reference: WO 119/64/256 Description: HENRY VINCENT. Born WINDSOR, Berkshire. Served in 18th Dragoons (Light). Sevice: 1817-1821. Discharged aged 23. Kilmainham Reference: B2868 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s)

The History Diaries BlogSpot More info on Henry Vincent (type his name in the search bar).Saint Lucy (talk) 14:27, 17 May 2020 (UTC)