Service
Cornet in the 7th Dragoon Guards. 25th of November 1824.
It has been difficult to resolve under just what circumstances he first entered the Army, there being no references made to officers' movements in the muster rolls at this time and there is no trace of his being a "ranker".
The first time his name appears is when he countersigned the Paymaster's affidavit on the correctness of the Pay Lists as "Joseph Hely, Acting Adjutant", on the 25th of October 1825.
Consecutive signings every quarter until he was gazetted as a Lieutenant and Riding Master were as "J. Hely, Cornet and Acting Adjutant."
A letter dated the 6th of November 1824, sent from Newbridge Barracks, Ireland, and signed by Lt. Colonel Hancox, (then commanding the 7th Dragoon Guards) stated:
"Sir, I have the honour to report for the information of the Commander-in-Chief that Mr. Hely, who was ----- [word not legible] from the Riding Establishment at ----- [word not legible, but thought to be Dublin] conducts himself quite to my satisfaction and I have reason to believe that he continues to exert himself in the execution of his duties. I cannot help thinking though, that he labours under some difficulty in not being a commissioned officer.
This would ensure an authority which he appears to want from the knowledge of such a circumstance. Permit me to believe that you will mention this to the Commander-in-Chief and suggest (which I do with great diffidence) that he may be gazetted as a Cornet, without Pay."
The reply is very difficult to make any sense of, as an outline copy only is written on the back of the previous in-coming letter and comments crossed through in many places, but would appear to be as follows:
"The arrangement seems in-appropriate with the Riding Master being allowed a Cornetcy as Acting Adjutant and Riding Master and the Acting Adjutant being allowed a commission as Riding Master. Two individuals cannot therefore be gazetted to Cornetcy's, either with or without pay — as Riding-Masters. But there will be no objection to Mr. Hely being gazetted as a Cornet, without pay, as Acting Adjutant."
The Commander-in-Chief's "Memoranda Papers" are noted as "Mr. Hely, Riding-Master/Acting Adjutant", but the posts of both Adjutant and Riding-Master were filled at this particular time.
A further letter from Colonel Hancox, dated the 20th of November 1824, apologised "that any confusion in what was requested should have arisen, but he had tried in his first letter not to cloud the issue by over-emphasis on certain points".
Lieutenant and Riding Master in the 7th Dragoon Guards: 14th of November 1826.
This promotion followed on a letter sent to the Horse Guards by the Colonel commanding the Regiment that he (Hely):
"be given the rank of Lieutenant on his completion of a period at the Riding School as he wished to make him the Riding Master of the regiment and felt that this would add to his authority in the difficult position he had to fulfil."
He was dismissed from the Service by Court-martial, ceasing to receive pay from the 16th of February 1830, the sentence having been confirmed on the 8th of February 1830.
He was tried by a General Court-martial at Ipswich Barracks on the 26th of October 1829, and continued until the 5th of November 1829. The charges were:
(1) With having contracted a debt with William Higham, mess-man to the 7th or Princess Royal's Regiment of Dragoon Guards, between the 6th day of November 1828 and the 10th day of July 1829, for Breakfasts, Dinners and Liquors, to the amount of about £38/17/2d. and not paying or discharging the same, altho' frequently applied to for that purpose by the said William Higham.
(2) With having on or about the 28th day of June 1829, borrowed of Thomas Sage, a waiter at the Great White Horse Inn at Ipswich, the sum of £10, but which sum the said Lieutenant Hely, in violation of his own promise, has neglected to pay, altho' frequent applications for the payment of the said sum were made to him by the said Thomas Sage.
(3) With having given various bills of exchange, on acceptance of the money, to a non-commissioned officer, Paymaster Sergeant James Gourlay of the 7th D.G., some of which have been returned unpaid, there being no funds or assets for the payment of the same, by reason thereof and for the money lent to, and paid on account of the said Lieutenant Hely between the 9th of May 1826 and the 14th of April 1829, a balance of about £74 became due to the said Paymaster Sergeant, which Lieutenant Hely has neglected to pay, altho' frequently requested to pay the same and the said balance is now due and satisfaction to Paymaster Sergeant James Gourley, which the exception of £1/4/- which has been received, viz., on the part of Lieutenant Hely from Troop Sergeant Major J. Robinson, — such conduct on the part of Lieutenant Hely being disgraceful and unbecoming to the character of an officer and a gentleman and in breach of the regulations of the service."
Upon which charges the Court came to the following decisions:
"The Court having duly considered the evidence given in support of the charges against the prisoner, Lieutenant Hely, Acting Riding Master of the 7th or the Princess Rayon's Regiment of Dragoon Guards, his defence and the evidence he has adduced are of the opinion that he is "Guilty" of the first charge, the same being unbecoming to the character of an officer and a gentleman.
As to the second charge the Court is of the opinion that the prisoner is "Not Guilty".
With respect to the third charge the Court finds the prisoner "Guilty".
The Court having now found the prisoner "Guilty" of the first and third charges, and which being a breach of the Articles of War adjudge that he, the prisoner, Joseph Hely, Acting Riding Master of the 7th D.G. etc. etc., be removed from His Majesty's Service.
The Court, before closing the proceedings, are induced by the prisoner having nothing to depend upon other than his commission, and being of the opinion that his difficulties have arisen principally from imprudence, must humbly recommend him to the gracious consideration of his Majesty.
His Majesty was pleased to approve and confirm the findings of and the Sentence of the Court, but in consideration of the recommendation of the Court His Majesty was pleased to command that on the removal of the said Lieutenant Hely from the Service the commuted service of an Ensign's commission be granted to him.
By direction of the Commander-in-Chief.
[Signed] H. Somerset
Dated the 8th of February 1830."
On his dismissal he was allowed the value of a commission of £450.
Hart's Army List for 1831 merely shows him as having been "Removed from the Army."
On the 19th of July 1835 he became a Cornet, and later (on some unknown date), a Captain in the 1st Lancers (Reina Isabel).
[PB: The 1st Regiment or "Reina Isabel" Lancers formed part of a volunteer force — the Anglo-Spanish, Auxiliary or British Legion — raised (with the approval of William IV) to support the young Queen Isabella II of Spain (born 1830), against her uncle, Don Carlos, in the First Carlist War of 1835-37. Enlistment into the Legion was for two years and the command was given to Colonel George de Lacy Evans, then an MP for Westminster, and later commander of the 2nd Division in the Crimea.]
The Legion returned to England in June of 1837. Hely emerges from this as rather an unsavoury character, as extracts from Alexander Somerville's History of the Spanish Legion show. Barely bothering to conceal his real name as "H--y", Somerville describes Hely's barbarity in detail. As a result, a number of his men are said to have sold their horses, arms and equipment, and deserted to the enemy. According to Somerville:
"A Court-of-Enquiry, although not a regular one, was appointed to enquire into the truth of these allegations, at which the Captain was himself present.
The enquiry proceeded by the men being asked severally in his presence if he had ill-treated them, They all, as might have been expected, declined making any charge, believing it better to bear old insults than to provoke new ones by telling the truth."
1983: It has not been possible to find evidence of any court-martial proceedings against Hely in Spain. But as to the truth of what is alleged against him it is known that although the author of the book, Alexander Somerville, was sued for libel by other officers whose actions he describes in his book, he won every suit.
For more on this period, see Joseph Hely in Spain, 1836-38.
In May 1837 Hely wrote to the Commander-in-Chief requesting that he be "considered for an appointment," enclosing a resume of his services (not now extant) and saying that his "experience as a cavalry officer could be usefully employed." His address at the time was given as 7, Hollywell Street, Westminster, SW1, and he signed his letter as "Joseph Hely, Late Lt. and R.M. 7th Dragoon Guards".
A year later he wrote from the same address,"that having heard nothing further," he had written to Lord Cardigan offering his "services as Adjutant or Riding Master," and "trusted that his Lordship would not be offended."
Ensign in the 49th Foot (without purchase): 16th of February 1839. He was then 31 years and 7 months of age.
Cornet in the 7th Hussars (without purchase): 10th of April 1840.
Lieutenant and Riding Master in the 7th Hussars: 11th of November 1845.
Lieutenant in the 58th Foot: 27th of October 1848.
Paymaster in the 11th Hussars: 8th of December 1848.
His bond as Paymaster was held by the European Assurance Company of No. 2 Waterloo Place, London, for which he had to pay £10 per annum premium.
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
Joseph Hely, 43, Paymaster, born Ramsgate.
Paymaster Joseph Hely, in Hart's New Army List, 1854.
"Paymaster Hely served as a Captain in the 1st Lancers of the late Anglo-Spanish-Legion in 1835-36 and was engaged at the castle of Guevara, the stronghold of the Carlists; and afterwards at Mendegur, Azua; and heights of Arlaban in Alava on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of Jan. 1836; also at the passage of the Urumea on the 28th of May and commanded the squadron which took Passages on that day. Again on the right of the line when Alza was attacked; together with the constant skirmishes in front of Vittoria."
(Click on image to enlarge)
Sick "on board ship" during April-May 1855 and returned to England "on sick leave of absence" aboard the S.S. "Arabia" on the 2nd of June.
"Horse Guards,
20th July 1855,
Sir, — I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo and to acquaint you that the General Commanding-in-Chief, with the concurrence of the Secretary of War is pleased to grant you leave of absence from the 27th ultimo to the 27th of October next, for the recovery of your health, when you are to rejoin your regiment in the Crimea.
I am, etc. etc.,
W. O. Forster, AAG.
[To:] Paymaster Hely, 11th Hussars, C/o. Cox and Kings, Craigs Court.
Paymaster at the Cavalry Depot, Brighton: 15th of May 1856.
"Horse Guards,
25th June 1856.
Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst. forwarding a letter from Mr. Hely, Paymaster at the Depot under your command, giving an explanation of the following circumstances, which had been brought to your notice by the Inspector General of Cavalry, viz. Appearing out of uniform and passing Major General the Earl of Cardigan without noticing his Lordship.
The Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief trusts that the Earl of Cardigan will be pleased to accept Mr. Hely's explanation, but Viscount Hardinge desires that it may be notified to Paymaster Hely that there should be nothing uncertain in a salute by an officer or a soldier and more particularly to a General Officer and the officer concerned is accordingly to be cautioned not to commit a repetition of such a careless mode of saluting a superior which may be unwittingly conceived to be disrespectful.
I have, etc. etc.,
W.F. Douglas, AAG.
[To:] Colonel McQueen, Commanding the Cavalry Depot, Brighton.
On to half-pay: 1st of September 1856.
Honorary Captain: 6th of September 1861.
Paymster in the 73rd Foot: 29th of July 1862.
Honorary Major and on to half-pay: 6th of December 1863.
On the 16th of December 1870 he applied for his pension to be commuted, being 65 years of age, and three extra years were allowed by the Medical Officer. He was then in receipt of a pension of £82/10/- per annum, and the sum finally allowed in full settlement on the 13th of March 1871 was £1,299/3/6d. His address at this time was merely given as Sydenham, London.
There is no further recorded trace of him, although it was the required practice that an officer on commuted pay who wished to remain on the Army list should notify the authorities before the 1st of January and the 1st of July of each year.
