The Convict and the Soldier

by John P F Lynch

  He thought their idea of entering Victoria with a ready-made and popular business was the best idea he had heard yet. Their secret would be safe with him, he said. He laughed at their audacity. The voyage cost was twenty five pounds and it was reasonable. He would still make money, as, strangely enough, he had some people to smuggle back to Van Diemen’s Land.

  The SS Eliza pitched and rolled as it headed north along the coast for a day before turning to port into Bass Strait and onto the Victorian coast. The winds in the Strait were strong and gusty and made for unpleasant sailing. For Michael and Seamus this was no ordeal as this voyage was taking them to a new life full of hope.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Arrival in Victoria

  The SS Ventnor sat calm on the still Hobart waters. It had been riding at anchor in the harbour for six days. The sailors had been busy dismantling the convicts’ berths and had tied them to the main mast in the cargo hold, plus the main cargo hold planks had been removed to allow the loading of the timber. It had taken two days to load the consignment, replace the main deck cargo and for the hold access planks to be made ready for sailing. During this time, the harbour master had completed his duties assessment and had cleared the ship for departure to Williamstown harbour in Victoria. The ship’s victualling had been completed and the crew had all returned, which was unusual as one or two normally deserted after they were paid. A cabin had been selected for the secure consignment and locks fitted. Captain Marshall was now ready to sail to Victoria on the outgoing tide.

  It was 1854. A lot had happened since both Michael and John left their homelands in early 1853.

  John Hall was awakened by the clanking of the anchor chain. He looked out of his porthole and could see that it was still dark. He dressed quickly and went up on deck. It was a hive of activity with sailors hauling ropes, sails being raised and the bosun shouting orders.

  The ship drifted south, the sails gradually filling with a gentle breeze. The lights of Hobart and the western shore residences gradually faded into the distance.

  Captain Marshall invited John to join him up on the quarter deck for a better view. A few lights could be seen on the side of Mount Wellington with the early morning sunlight shining on its escarpment.

  The ship tacked down the channel with a good westerly wind off their starboard quarter. First light was appearing and one could see the white caps of the sea all around them. By mid-morning they were clearing land’s end. They continued south for half a day, turned and then headed east. The wind was behind them and the ship pitched in the troughs but it was no longer rolling. The sails had been shortened due to the wind’s strength.

  John stood on deck until the land mass disappeared from his view behind low cloud. He then went below and started to write some letters; the first to his father. He wrote quickly relating the events since his last letter.

  The letters he wrote home basically were his diary and his father treated them as such and kept them in calendar order in his desk. He would sit in his study late at night, enjoying a wine, rereading the letters and visualising John’s travels.

  John’s letters to Maeve took much more thought and time. He spoke of his memories of her and the hopes he had for their future in a new land. He sat there for hours, when far out to sea, dreaming of what he hoped he could achieve in the future as a family man, and make her proud of his profession and the possessions he might acquire along the way.

  When the ship headed north it was under full sail. The wind was still from the west so the captain considered it was safe to steer the ship closer to land, where the scene changed constantly.

  There were small bays with golden sandy beaches and grasslands. Small columns of smoke often appeared in the forests, as did mountain peaks in the distance and then only the sea as a bay disappeared in the distance. Some of the bays were quite large but the captain steered a straight course and was not tempted to ‘have a look’. Islands were dotted on the ship’s course. Maria Island was the largest well-known penal settlement.

  Most of the coastline and the bays had not been surveyed and caution was required. There had been many ships wrecked all around the colony.

  After the ship reached Schouten Island they steered due north keeping the coast in sight on the port beam. The rest of the trip up the east coast was uneventful with moderate weather. The wind was from the west at ten knots and the seas calm to slight. They were now heading towards Banks Strait which was between Clarke Island, the Cape Barren Islands and Flinders Island of the Furneaux Group of Islands and the northern tip of the colony of Van Diemen’s land.

  Banks Strait was dotted with islands and the wrecks that had fallen foul to the tides and westerly winds. It made tacking any course, between the islands and reefs, fraught with danger.

  Captain Marshall timed his entry into the Strait to be just after first light. Only a few of the crew had sailed this trip before and were apprehensive about what the weather would be when they turned north-west into the Strait. However, they were satisfied that they had a good ship and a competent captain. Breakfast was served early for both passengers and crew, then the ship was battened down. Portholes were closed, decks cleared, ropes stowed and all loose items below decks stored. The passengers had been advised to pack all items in their cabins and be ready for rough seas. The precautions taken were just that, precautions. It was best to be prepared before the ship turned to the north-west and started to tack through the Strait.

  Bass Strait appeared in the first morning light, white caps curling in the distance. The waves could be seen dashing on the low cliffs of a small island off on the starboard bow. The ship began to pitch and roll but the seas were only moderate. The ship was tacking and holding its head. They had a turning tide astern which helped them steer a direct course in the middle of the strait. For an hour all was well.

  Suddenly, they had a wind shift from the south. The captain immediately turned to port and shortened sail. They were holding their course but the ship was being pushed north towards Clarke Island.

  The lookout suddenly called down, “Reef, distance near, two points off the starboard bow.” Everyone on deck heard his call and nervously looked in that direction. A small row of waves different to the rest of the sea became visible and showed the reef line. The captain had no choice but to turn about and sail back down the Strait. He headed further south this time and then turned northwest, again keeping close to the north coast of the colony. This time they ran straight and true and cleared the danger area. They then headed out of Banks Strait into the notorious Bass Strait.

  The SS Ventnor sailed out into Bass Strait which was living up to its reputation. Gusty westerly winds and choppy seas greeted them. The sails were straining, the yardarms creaking and the hull groaned with the pitching and rolling action in the seas. The seas were washing over the decks and only essential crew ventured onto the main deck and the quarter deck, with the passengers confined to their cabins for the day. The ship tacked west into the ‘Roaring Forties’. Progress was slow but steady; they were making about eight knots.

  The passengers eased their boredom by reading and savouring the small hot meals being delivered to them by the galley crew. A low cloud hung over the coast of Victoria as it appeared on the horizon. Eventually the coast separated, revealing the entrance into Port Phillip Bay, leading up to the town of Melbourne. With this weather, the entry into the bay between the two narrow headlands would require considerable caution. The riptide at the headlands was fierce, both in the volume of water and its turbulence, as the sea poured into or out of the bay.

  Captain Marshall decided to sit outside the Heads and select a favourable tide as signalled by the new Queenscliff Bluff system of signals. These signals were a new innovation of a retired sea captain. Selected flags were suspended on a mast on the foreshore and gave updated riptide information.

  When he headed the ship towards the bay opening the seas were still rough with a westerly wind. The signal station had just changed the flags to indi
cate a ‘high tide’. The ship was making good way and the captain kept it sailing in the channel middle, between the two headlands, ready to turn to starboard immediately he was in the bay, to avoid the mud flats off Queenscliff.

  A long swell was developing. It was a little unpleasant but the ship was under control and holding its head. All hands were on deck. John and the surveyors stood in the bow eager to see the ship enter the bay through the two headlands, which could be clearly seen either side of the ship. The long swell continued. At times the colour of the sea changed from dark blue to a light sandy blue, as the depth of the entry channel changed.

  The wind increased and began to push the ship easterly towards Point Lonsdale. Captain Marshall reefed the topsails; this reduced the cross wind effect. It might take longer to clear the headlands but the ship would ride in on the incoming tide. His decision was correct. The incoming tide came with the expected turbulence and volume of water and, together with the wind, the tide pushed the ship into the bay well clear of the danger areas. It entered a very large bay with another smaller bay off to the west. The ship turned to starboard and followed the coast up past Sorrento.

  The size of the bay surprised John. Standing on the bow he could see no land on the horizon to the north. It was many hours before the horizon scene changed. A haze appeared first, then the shape of buildings and ships at anchor. They passed two ships heading outbound but they were afar. Residences became visible to the east and to the north at the top of the bay. Captain Marshall anchored in Hobson’s Bay just off the Williamstown docks and waited on board for the harbour controller to come alongside. In the meantime he sent the first officer ashore to contact the owner’s agent.

  John Hall was on his own now; in a foreign country in all but language. His first task was to locate the Melbourne branch of the Bank of New South Wales. He was advised that Melbourne was over the river some six miles away. After booking into a hotel, he located the river ferry and then shared a hansom cab to be driven to the centre of Melbourne. It was a disappointing town although the streets had been surveyed and blocks marked. The progress of completing any civil project seemed to have stalled. The Bank of New South Wales was a commanding building when compared to others in the vicinity.

  John was duly welcomed and shown to a private room where he deposited his father’s cheque of three hundred pounds. Following the finalisation of the paperwork, he was presented with a large envelope containing twelve letters.

  He only opened the official looking letters. He wished to enjoy reading the others in the solitude of his hotel room. The first letter he opened was signed by Lt Col Robert Nickle. The letter was an official invitation to visit his office at John’s first opportunity. This response gave John some confidence regarding his future in the colony. The second letter he opened was from the Bank of New South Wales allowing him credit to the limit of one thousand pounds.

  The third letter was from his friend, Lt Brown. He had made a success of his move to headquarters and had become a staff officer with a promotion to major. John replaced all the letters into the large envelope and returned to Williamstown. Tomorrow he would seek out the headquarters of the 12th Regiment. He sat out on a small balcony attached to his hotel room and looked out across Hobson’s Bay.

  He arranged Maeve’s letters in date order and started to read them. A feeling of warmth and desire almost overwhelmed him as he read the tenderness in her words. It was almost as if she were there reading to him. Each letter was from the heart and when he read the last of her six letters he was beyond speech. What a surprise! The Keogh’s had decided to come to Australia but only Maeve and her father. Aunt Jane had decided to remain in County Clare. This was the news for which he had been waiting, for nearly a year. While it was great news, there was no time mentioned. He would write and ask her tonight. Perhaps she was already on her way. It would take around four months to receive an answer to a letter. If only Michael could be with them. Where was he? He wondered how he could find out.

  Maeve had received a letter from Michael but she had told only her father. She did not mention him in her letters to John, for fear her letters may go astray. She would tell John when they were together again.

  He dressed smartly for his meeting with Sir Robert Nickle. He hoped that by the day’s end he would have a new career in the military service. After travelling to Melbourne again he located the regiment east of the town. The officer of the day recognised a fellow officer and afforded him the courtesy of a visiting officer by inviting him into the officers’ mess while he located the commandant.

  John could hear Lt Col Sir Robert Nickle coming up the hall well before he saw him. He still remembered his resonant voice.

  “Welcome, John. I’ve been wondering where you were and when you would arrive.” He shook his hand. “Come with me,” and led him to his office.

  He closed the door and motioned to him to be seated. He started with, “I have your application and I also have your history. Now don’t look shocked, we at the top know all and, between you and me, you did the honourable thing. Now let’s put that behind us. I offer you a commission in the 12th Regiment. After three months in Melbourne I will post you to an outlying town. Your experience in Ireland will be invaluable here. Some of my officers have been nowhere and lack skills in handling different cultures. You can help change their thinking by example. The Government is honest and they have some skills but they have a steep learning curve to surmount. It is a good colony with good people and I hope you find life as satisfying as I do. That’s all for now. See me here tomorrow at eleven sharp.” He opened the door. “I’m looking forward to having a good chat with you later.”

  After his meeting the next day, he was told to have a look around Melbourne for a day or so. Two days later John was invited into Sir Robert’s private quarters and they sat down and spoke of days gone by. John told him of his father’s success with his farming ventures and his sister’s top performances in the district horse shows. Sir Robert reciprocated by telling John that George had nearly completed his legal studies and intended to specialise in criminal law. Sir Robert’s wife had died and the old soldier was rather lonely and far away from his native country. However, he stated he would settle in Australia as he preferred the milder weather in Victoria to the extremes of the Cumberland climate.

  He spoke of the problems he’d had in the past. He mentioned the miners’ Eureka Stockade rebellion at Ballarat over their gold mining licence fees and the involvement of the 12th Regiment. His men had quelled the rebellion but he felt the action would never have happened if the Government had been more professional and had listened to the miners sooner.

  John could sense his interest in the future of the colony. They spoke for nearly two hours and then John departed after forging a common bond with his mentor.

  John was duly sworn in as a Lieutenant in the British Army 12th Regiment on the 1st of December 1854. He was issued with his red and yellow trimmed uniform, given an office and handed the book of Regulations and Rules to read and digest. He was put on the duty roster and finally, to refresh his skills, he travelled to a firing range. He had some practise with a pistol and rifle and later with a field gun. He then felt competent enough to oversee some practise for the new junior officers.

  He was comfortable in his role and looked forward to some challenges. Apart from some trouble with a drunken mob and some convicts who refused to work, he had not had much to do. John paraded the platoon every second Sunday, past the gardens, when the local band was playing. He attended several official functions, which required him to escort a debutante to a pre-dance. Other than dinners with high level government officials, his social life was somewhat reserved, even boring. He wrote to his father and Maeve each fortnight and went to the bank weekly hoping for letters. It would be sometime before letters started to come to the barracks.

  The regiment had been told that with the increase in bushranger activity they would be required to provide escorts for the gold shipments as
the current security system was not working. Gold was in every conversation due to its importance in the colony’s economic future. Gold had first been found at Bathurst in New South Wales in 1823 and again in 1839 and 1841. Payable quantities were discovered in Victoria at Clunes in 1850 and 1851.

  The gold field had attracted people from all over the world including the people of Melbourne. Homes were deserted; shopkeepers and their assistants left town, including skilled persons, and sailors deserted their ships. Some captains refused to allow their crews to leave ship for fear of being short of sailors and unable to leave the port. A few gold miners became wealthy but many became destitute and lawless. The dramatic increase in costs of food also contributed to social disharmony in the colony.

  John was assigned a military gold escort duty. This was to be his first trip outside of Melbourne town and he was eager to see some of the local unique wildlife and fauna. He had not even seen a kangaroo.

  He led a troop of twelve troopers with a sergeant to Bendigo to escort the gold shipment back to Melbourne. They had two carts, driven by two of the troopers. He intended to travel only in daylight and to stay overnight at small towns on the main road to Melbourne. The trip was planned to take four days. Each cart had two horses and it was mostly downhill, so the travelling was not arduous. They made good time from Bendigo and the troopers were alert. Some had fought in India and were not frightened of a gun fight. John advised his men what he wanted done if there was a roadside ambush. His plan was to dismount and attack, not to defend against any bushrangers, and only to fire at a clear target.

  The convoy left the small town of Woodend and was trotting down the Black Forest Road at around noon with a cliff on their left and a dense tree line on their right side. As planned, John and the sergeant were in the lead with three troopers. Two more were riding adjacent each cart and the last three riding at the rear. John called to his men to be alert. After travelling for a half an hour, the terrain had not changed. Suddenly the trooper in the first cart shouted, “Ambush”. A second or two later, sporadic gunfire erupted from the tree line.