Service
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Shooting Star" on the 21st of April 1854.
Joined the regiment on the 3rd of October 1854 from Scutari, where he had been since the 21st of September 1854.
Taken prisoner of war at Balaclava after being wounded. Sustained "contusion of the skull and slit ear."
John Bevin in Russian captivity. His letter to his mother was published in the Times [date? 1855], and reprinted in a number of local newspapers. [PB: Who sent this letter to the Times?]
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ENGLISH PRISONERS RUSSIA.
The following appears in the Times:
"Sir, — The barbarities practised on the field battle by some the wild Cossacks have given rise very generally a painful impression that our common soldiers and non-commissioned officers who may have become prisoners of war in Russia are likely to receive but a scanty measure of care or kindness from their captors, though it may have considered politic to treat officers of distinction with marked courtesy. In the interests of truth and justice I send to you, and ask you to publish, the enclosed exact copy of a letter from private in the 8th Hussars, written from Simpheropol to his mother. Your obedient servant, Feb. 9."
Simpheropol Nov. 26.
"My dear Mother, I avail myself of this opportunity writing these few lines the same time must return thanks the Almighty God for being spared to be able to do so, and for falling into such good hands as the Russian people are, which does not always occur prisoners of war.
I suppose by this time you have seen by the papers a full account of the melancholy charge of the light brigade of cavalry on the 25th of last month. I did my duty as a soldier for my country, and it was my fate to be severely wounded the fray, on the ground occupied by the Russian army.
The officers of their army showed us the greatest kindness, and their doctors, as soon they possibly could, dressed our wounds, and in two days after that sent us here to hospital, and I assure you I cannot describe the kindness of the inhabitants this town; if we were in a town in England our own people could not show more kindness.
I am nearly recovered now, thank God; the only wound I have that will be discernible is a sword cut across my left ear. I had a great many lance wounds about my body, but they are all nearly well.
There were about seventy taken prisoners, but I cannot tell how many poor fellows were shot dead out of the five Light Dragoon regiments. I never saw such a terrific fire, as was upon us. I never got a touch of a bullet, although my comrades fell around me in half-dozens. I hope I shall never see such a scene again; it occurred at a place called Balaklava, near Sebastopol.
The name of being a prisoner is worse than the reality. I hope you will not be grieved at my being a prisoner, and also not to imagine that being a prisoner of war is like a culprit; on the contrary, the officers of the Russian army visit us every day and treat us kindly, and give us cigars and tobacco to smoke, and many times tell that we were very brave soldiers. Certainly that day, amid hairbreadth escapes, I was fearless to the last moment.
I expect we shall be released the next spring, at least that there will be an exchange prisoners, and I expect we shall be sent home to England.
I almost forgot Captain Maude was wounded the same morning long before we charged. I hope he will recover it.
I hope ______ and _____ are both well. Give my love to father, brothers, and sisters. I received Ellen's letter the night previous to my being taken. Give my respects to _____ and _____, and all friends, and especially the police; so I shall, for the present, say adieu, and remain, Your ever affectionate son,
JOHN BEVIN, 8th Hussars.
You need not answer this. We expect we shall go further into the interior of the country in a short time, and I shall soon write again."
[Source: Westmorland Gazette, 17th February 1855, "English Prisoners in Russia" (accessed 23.5.14). A similar version was published in the Notts Guardian, 15 Feb 1855 [RM].
[PB: "Give my respects to ... and especially the police"? Is he being ironic, having perhaps been in trouble with them back n Ireland?]
James Wightman of the 17th Lancers recalls Bevin in his "Memoirs" for an incident in a Russian hospital in Tchernaya soon after they had both been made prisoners-of-war:
"A strange thing happened this afternoon. Private John Bevin, of the 8th Hussars, had been having his wounds dressed. A Russian cavalryman who had been lying on the opposite side of the hut, and had desperate sword-cuts on the head and three fingers off, had been looking hard at Bevin for some time.
At last he got up, and crossing the floor made Bevin to understand that it was he who had cut the Russian about so severely.
Bevin cheerfully owned to the charge, and pointing to the fragment of his own left ear, gave the Russian to understand that it was he who had played the part of St. Peter. Whereupon the two fraternised and Bevin had to resort to much artifice to avoid being kissed by the battered Muscovite."
Rejoined the regiment from Russian captivity on the 26th of October 1855.
From Private to Corporal: 18th of December 1855.
Life after service
After his discharge he went to Australia and thence to New Zealand, where he joined the police force in 1861 at Otago. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1861. He then resigned from the force but soon re-joined and regained his former rank.
He was promoted to Sergeant 1st Class on the 1st of April 1864 and to Sergeant Major in November of that same year. He was still in the police at the time of his death on the 11th of May 1892 at Dowling Street, Dunedin, and was, until a week previously, on duty at the Central Police Station.
He was buried in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, on the 15th of May 1892. He left a widow, three sons and four daughters. His obituary appeared in the Otago Witness on the 12th of May 1892 and a photograph of his grave in the Otago Daily Times on the 11th of March 1972.
There is a copy of his obituary report and funeral taken for the Otago Witness in the 8th Hussar file.
See the photograph of his gravestone in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, in the 8th Hussar file.
A member of his greater family told, in later years, of a cause which contributed to his death:
"He was apparently rather a vain man and used to dye his hair with ink. When suffering from a carbuncle on his neck, some of this got into the open wound, and infected it"
From the Colonial Military Gazette, June and July 1892 [PB: the following appears to be a quotation, but may be EJB's paraphrase or summary]:
June: John Bevin — In reporting his death the article stated that "He had been ill just a week, the cause of death being "diabetes and a carbuncle"
July: The same journal stated that "The Government had granted to Mr. Bevin's widow a compassionate allowance equal to one year's pay of her late husband."
A copy of his "Defaulters' Sheet" while he was in the Police in Australia provides somewhat conflicting information with that already known:
John Bevin. Registered No. 110. Appointed on the 2nd of November 1857. Born in Ireland. Age. 26. Religion, C. of E. Married. "Nil"
Trade: (Served 8 years 6 months in the 8th Hussars.)
Height: 5' 7.
Black hair. Grey eyes. Dark complexion.
Promoted to Senior Constable. 1st of May 1858.
On the 17th of July 1858 he was charged with "Speaking disrespectfully to Qr. Master Taylor." Found "Guilty", he was severely reprimanded by Inspector Croke.
Promoted to 2nd. Class Sergeant on the 1st of August 1858.
On the 4th of April 1860 he was charged with "Improper conduct to Constable Morony and — being under the influence of drink." He was found "Guilty" and severely reprimanded by the Chief Commissioner of Police in the first charge — the second being "Not proven".
On the 1st of March 1861 he was charged with "Loitering behind the Gold Escort he was in charge of for an hour — at a place of stopping — at a public house to obtain drink." Evidence was given by the rest of the escort and although found "Not guilty," he was "Reduced to rank — and pay — of a Constable." by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
On the 17th of June and the 20th of July he faced three more charges, the first was for "Being under the influence of drink when returning off duty" and for which he was found "Guilty" and fined 5/- by Inspector Henry Thornton, and the second occasion was facing a combined charge of being "Drunk when returning off duty" and "Disobedience of orders by not leaving the Sergeant's quarters when ordered to do so — until being removed by force."
He was found "Guilty" on the first and "Not Guilty" on the second charge, and fined 40/- and 5/- respectively by the same Inspector. He resigned from the Force on the 12th of September 1861, his character being classed as "Indifferent."
An article about him appeared on the Winter 1985 number of the Orders and Medals Research Society's Journal. In this, Brian Cooper, of New Zealand, outlined several previously unknown facts of his life in the police forces of Australia and New Zealand, but either did not know, or had ignored, some details of his service in the Australian force, where John Bevin had apparently been employed as a rough-riding and drill-instructor to the Richmond Depot of the Goldfields Police.
After going to New Zealand in 1861 John Bevin had served for two years in the Otago Police Force, but finding police pay there meagre he had resigned and opened a livery stable. A few months of this was sufficient for him and he returned to the police. Here he was known for his bravery, ability and good-heartedness, there being several instances in the police records of his being given monetary awards for his bravery.
One particular incident took place at the present site of the Oval at Dunedin and was in the best Wild-West style, one man being killed and a policeman and one of the ruffians being wounded.
In 1878 he was asked to re-organise the police force there and that he was successful is more than borne out by the glowing report sent by Bevin's superiors in Dunedin from the Wellington Commissioner, Colonel Whitmore.
It was on the 25th of October 1882 (the 28th anniversary of the renowned Balaclava Charge) that Bevin was presented with the silver cup now in the Otago Early Settler's Museum, the inscription on it reading:
"A tribute of respect and esteem to Sergeant-Major Bevin from his many Dunedin friends to remind him of the 28th anniversary of the Light Brigade Cavalry Charge at Balaclava. At present in the New Zealand Constabulary, late of the King's Royal Irish Hussars. Dunedin, 25th October 1882."
This was apparently given at a benefit concert for the survivors of the Light Brigade. According to the report in the Otago Daily Times of the 29th October 1882:
"Just before the concluding item, the Sergeant-Major, as one of the survivors, ascended the stage, where his appearance was the signal for a loud and prolonged burst of cheering, accompanied by the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Sergeant Major Bevin then thanked the audience for its kindness to his less fortunate comrades and outlined the events leading up to the Charge."
Bevin was known to have kept a scrapbook pertaining to the veterans and a note of this is made with reference to [?] the Nineteenth Century Magazine for May 1892 and The Times for the 17th of May 1892.
Mentioned, too, was the fact that members of his greater family still live in New Zealand, in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland. His medals (including the Police Long Service medal) were pictured, as was the silver cup.
[PB: In April 2016, John Barham sent an email to the CrimeanWar group, attaching a photograph of John Bevin's headstone. We are very grateful to him for allowing us to add the pictures and his comments to the archive.]
John Bevin's headstone (photo courtesy John Barham)
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I am delighted to find that a survivor of the Charge, Private John Bevin of the 8th Hussars, is buried quite close to us here in New Zealand. John was taken prisoner on the day, and James Bancroft in his valuable work 'Echelon' describes how he was taken to task by a wounded Russian who accused him of having cut off three of his fingers, and of causing two serious wounds to his head. John admitted it was he, then pointed to his own damaged ear and 'managed to talk his way out of the difficult situation.'
Some weeks later he was exchanged, and later balloted out when the war was over and th e regiment reverted to peacetime strength. He left for Australia, and became rough riding and drill instructor to the Mounted Police in the Victoria goldfields.
He came to New Zealand in 1861 and settled in Dunedin joining the Otago Mounted Police where he rose to the rank of sergeant major, highly respected in the community — more than 2000 turned out for his funeral in 1892.
Obviously quite a character, and very sound and dependable. I have posted in our files here two pictures of his grave in Dunedin Southern Cemetery.
For those interested, if you google 'New Zealand Crimean War Veterans', you get to the details of 70 veterans who settled and died here, although surprisingly Bevin is not mentioned.
We corresponded and he replied:
When I get down to Dunedin next I'll take some proper photos — this won't be till the autumn as we leave shortly to spend the summer in UK.
I was very interested in the additional detail you provide — some of it I had from the ODT, although they make it slightly clearer that he was actually seconded to Wellington — they say in 1874 — with the mission of reorganising the police force there, and that he instituted night patrols throughout the city and better briefing systems for case handling. This apparently is why Col Whitmore the Wellington Commissioner wrote in glowing terms to his Dunedin counterpart. This could well have been in 1878.
I have no knowledge of how long the secondment lasted but his promotion record gives a clue to its starting in 1874. To Sgt 2nd Class in 1871, then Sgt 1st Class in 1874, followed quickly on 10th November 1874 to Sgt Major. This may well have been brought forward to give him sufficient status for the Wellington assignment?
Interesting too the drink problem and poor job performance in Victoria. A delayed combat stress effect? He was married either on arrival in Dunedin, or shortly after. Could that have been the reason for the transformation?
[Source: Otago Daly Times:
Exploring History of Military Graves, 13 Jan 2019.]
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Exploring history of military graves
By Brenda Harwood
Dunedin military historian Peter Trevathan, who has uncovered fascinating local history through researching graves in the city's Northern Cemetery, is about to cast his net wider in pursuit of the military exploits of some of Dunedin's early residents.
Mr Trevathan recently worked with the Southern Heritage Trust to complete a cemetery trail involving World War 1 graves and memorials in the Northern Cemetery.
Now, two graves in the Southern Cemetery, those of Duncan Gordon Boyes and John Bevin, and one in the Northern Cemetery, that of Sydney Herbert Davies, have caught his eye as having interesting histories dating back still further, as far as the earliest days of the Dunedin settlement.
Born in the 1840s, Boyes was an ensign in the Royal Navy and won the Victoria Cross at the age of just 17 for heroic action during a battle in Japan in the 1860s.
When the soldier carrying the "colours'' (the regimental flag) was killed, Boyes picked it up and continued the charge in the face of heavy fire.
"After winning the VC, he came to New Zealand, and then very quickly fell apart, becoming depressed and alcoholic,'' Mr Trevathan said.
With plans to work on his brother's farm, near Queenstown, Boyes instead stayed at Dunedin's original Criterion Hotel, and sadly took his own life in 1869, aged 22. He was buried with full military honours in the Southern Cemetery, and his remains were later shifted to the Andersons Bay Cemetery.
"It was a very sad story,'' Mr Trevathan said.
A memorial to Boyes and his achievement remains in the Southern Cemetery, although it is in poor condition.
Mr Trevathan is keen to clean up the grave and is applying for a grant to install a sign at the memorial site with a picture of Boyes and a description of how he won the rare medal.
Also in the Southern Cemetery, the grave of John Bevin marks a remarkable military history.
Bevin was with the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars at the battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854, where he was part of the doomed Charge of the Light Brigade. He was wounded and taken prisoner by the Russians.
After being freed as part of a prisoner exchange, Bevin emigrated to Dunedin, where he became a member of the police constabulary, rising to the rank of sergeant major.
He died while on duty at his police station in May, 1892, aged 60, and was buried in the Southern Cemetery with full military honours.
"Everyone knows about the Charge of the Light Brigade; it's a great story,'' Mr Trevathan said.
He hopes to also obtain funding to clean up the sign and for a sign telling Bevin's remarkable story.
Buried in the Northern Cemetery, Sydney Herbert Davies was an ensign in the Royal Navy, who served in the Crimea in the 1850s, before leaving the navy and joining the "16th Foot'' and being sent to Canada in the 1860s at the time of the American Civil War.
He resigned from the British Army and joined the American Confederate Army in the South, becoming a drill instructor and taking part in the famous Picket's Charge at Gettysburg.
After leaving the United States and emigrating to New Zealand, he joined the New Zealand Armed Constabulary.
He was awarded the New Zealand War Medal in 1873.
"I'm really keen to find out as much information as I can on all of these guys, so I would really like to make contact with their descendants if I can,'' Mr Trevathan said.
To make contact with Peter Trevathan, phone (027) 501-8224, or email petebond058 @hotmail.co.nz
brenda.harwood @thestar.co.nz
