Soldiering through the archives - the letters of the Beal brothers
Beal letter postmark
The family of Beal lived at Burn of Aldbar near Brechin. William remained on the farm while his brothers Andrew, David, Alexander and Peter joined the army. All but Peter were posted to India in the mid 1840's. Their letters home to their brother William are full of details of military campaigns and barrack life. The brothers all saw battle at Ferozesheh and Subroa and won medals.
Peter was transferred from recruiting work in Aberdeen to India in 1848. He died there from illness in 1849.
Andrew had been a sergeant but provides a detailed description of being cashiered for gambling. The following is an extract from his letter.
In place of anything better I will now give you an account of my Trial by a Court Martial which Reduced me from the rank of Sergeant to that of Private. I was promoted to Sergt in July and about the end of that month I fancied I would like to have a game at cards so I goes over a mountain about a quarter of a mile from this along with two or three Ptes of the Regt to have a bit of a game in the cleft of a large rock we had not played long before the Provost Marshall of the Regt came past, evidently on the look out for gamblers and he was close to us ere I observed him it was too late to run as he had looked me full in the face and knew me well I begged of him not to report me and he promised that he would not but when I got home I saw him go straight to the Sergt Majors Quarters. I could not believe that it was to report me but the Sergt Major came to my room where I was and ordered me to consider myself under arrest. I was summoned before the Colonel next morning (31st July) and he ordered a Court Martial to assemble for my trial on the 2nd August consisting of one Captain and four Lieutenants. The proceedings of which are as follows; "The proceedings of a Regimental Court Martial assembled at Kussowlie on the 2nd of August 1847 by order of Lieut Colonel G. Congreve C.B. Commanding HMS 29th Regt. The president and members having been duly sworn proceed to the trial of No 2198 Sergt Andrew Beal of No 2 or Capt Kirbys Company confined and brought to trial on the following charge. For having near Kussowlie on or about the 30th July 1847 been Detected in gambling with privates of HMs 29 Regt to which he the prisoner pleads guilty. The court on the Evidence p. in support of the prosecution are of the opinion that he the prisoner No 2198 Sergt A. Beal is guilty of the Charge preferred against him which being in breach of the Articles of War and Subversive of good order and Military Discipline do now Sentence him the prisoner No 2198 Sergt Beal to be reduced to the rank and pay of a private Sentinel. Approved and Confirmed. Signed_________. I was brought out on the Parade and in front of the whole Regt and the proceedings read over and had my stripes cut off my arms by the Drum Major who always performs that Duty. So you see that a Sergt hold his rank on a very uncertain tenure in this Regt and for a paltry game at Cards I forfeited a rank that I cannot regain for many years and also nearly 30s a month and the privilege of wearing Scarlet clothing. But a Private can make himself as well off on his small pay as a Sergt can on his so I am contented.
By 1859 his situation had improved and he was employed as a Clerk in the Meerut Orderly Room and had been promoted to Corporal. Andrew outlived all of his soldier brothers but he felt that "we all made a bad job of it by entering the army".
David Beal was the first of the brothers to be stationed in India with the 29th Regiment of Foot by 1844. He encouraged the others to come to India. The brothers were all posted to Kussowlie and Meerut together. David blamed himself for the deaths of Alexander and Peter and feared to go back home as a result. "I dare not come home any for I have been the cause of all of this". He died sometime in 1852 from illness.
MS 643
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