The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-05
WAS AT WATERLOO.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES or AN
OLD SOLDIER.

Deserted From the British Army While
stationed In Canada Tho Queen to Bc
Petitioned to Grant Him IN Honorable
Discharge.
Living in the busy city Of Lynn,
Mass, spending the last days Of a mo-
mentous and dramatic life, honored by
all who know him, is John Henry Beard,
one of the few survivors Of the battle of
Waterloo.
This man, nearing the century mark
in life, is still in possession Of all his
faculties and Is looking forward with
much pleasure to June 21, when he
will be the special guest Of the Eng
1ishmen Of the commonwealth Of Massa-
chusetts at the celebration of the anni-
versary Of the coronation Of Queen Vic
toria.
"Once an Englishman, always an
Epglishman, is his idea, but he has
nothing but the kindliest feelings for
the country Of his adoption. Still he
takes great interest ia the happenings
ON the other side of tho ocean and daily
reads the cable dispatches and COM
ments ON the changes that have taken
place since he shouldered musket and
marched from Brussels to take part In
the battle Of Waterloo.
Having taken part in this battle, fight
ing ON the side of the viotors, 10 Of itself
a great distinction, bat being among
the last survivors Of this battle, In
which over $50. 900 men took part, is
60 have honor thrust upon him, Mr..
Beard thinks
That the Englishmen Of Massachusetts,
admire the man who fought with We'll
lington is evidenced by the fact that be
will be present at the anniversary oere-
monies and be the guest Of honor. Not
only this, but monster petition is be-
ing prepared. which will be presented
30 the queen, asking her to grant dis
charge to this former soldier Of Great
Britain.
After an honorable service in the
army he left without leave, and, al
though this was 80 years ago, he desires
a discharge. and Embassador Paunce-
fote, the representative Of England at
Washington, has taken such an interest
I'm the old gentleman that there remains
but little doubt in his mind that an
honorable discharge will be granted
him.
Few men have lived . more dramatic
life than Mr.. Beard, and he delights in
telling to the younger generation Of the
exciting times when Napoleon was
spreading conformation throughout
Europe and England was almost at his
mercy. His ancestors for several CEN
suries had been in the army, and his
father was colonel Of the Sixty-sixth
English regiment, stationed at London,
when young Beard was born. He visit
~ London in l840 and even then found
~ impossible to discover exactly where
zee old fort was located.
On Nov. 10, 1900, he was born. and
i5as 10 years be lived with the soldiers,
saw them drill and was taught military
usage and drills.
At the age Of 10 he joined the regi-
ment commanded by his father, and q
few days after he had celebrated his
birthday he was q regular soldier in the
service of England and member of the
Sixty-sixth regiment.
while the regiment remained in
England, Mr.. Beard said, "the re-
cruits were given the hardest kind Of
tasks / remember that the first day
enlisted was detailed on the guard. /
had seen 30 many military evolutions
and been drilled so hard that was pro-
ficient in that branch, but when it came
Ito walking up and down all night re-
member / grew very tired. / had an
idea that my father would be watching
me. and, sure enough, in the early
morning I saw man approach. He was
coming noiselessly, and thought that
something was wrong. halted him,
and it proved to be the colonel Of the
regiment. my father. He had come out
20 try me and found that was doing
my duty. That pleased him greatly. but
ne did not show it. He only said that
( ne was glad was doing my duty as a
soldier. and that was no longer boy,
but was man."
It was shortly after this that the
regiment was ordered to the continent
TO form part Of the allied armies against
Napoleon. Young Beard accompanied
his fathers commands. On the march
es through France and Belgium up to
tho time the regiment came near Brus-
sells there was nothing Of incident.
For four days before the battle of
Waterloo he says that his regiment
marched back and forth from one place
TO another and were almost always
within heiring distance Of the French
guns. They were not called upon to en-
ter the conflict until the decisive day,
when orders came early in the morning
TO march to the front. Young Beard
was In the front ranks Of his father
command and remembers, as II 1t were
yesterday, the squares formed by the
English soldiers where the French cav
airy "foamed itself away"
Beard was wounded three times In
the hip. being struck by two bullets al
nearly the same instant and being hi,