The 11th Regiment spent time in the Mediterranean in the 1820s and 1830s. They were stationed in Portugal from mid 1827. The following year, on 11th March 1828, they were ordered to Corfu, arriving eleven days later. In 1829, the companies were constructing the road from Corfu Town. According to a contemporary report ‘Twelve kilometers out of town, the troops carved an inscription on the rock to register the fact that it was the work of the men of the Eleventh Regiment of Foot’.
The Regiment moved to Levkas (also known as Santa Maura) on January 10th 1831, staying one year before the headquarters and three companies moved to Zante. On New Year’s Day 1835, the Regimental strength was reported at 11 officers, 33 senior NCOs and 279 regular forces on Zante, along with 14 women and 33 children. Most members of a regiment were not married, and few were given permission for their wives and family to accompany them. It was also noted that the regiment was under-strength. Of the total roll, 498 regular forces in the 11th had between 7 and 21 years’ service. A summary of nationalities from the same report is also interesting - 60 Privates were English, 18 were Scottish and 339 were Irish. Given that the 11th was the North Devonshire Regiment, this may seem surprising; however, British regiments relied heavily on recruitment in Ireland. The history of the 11th also notes that ‘an average of twenty hospital admissions each month took place on Zante’ and that in December 1834 about forty people from the Regiment were dispatched to England for a ‘change of climate’.
The Regiment moved to Levkas (also known as Santa Maura) on January 10th 1831, staying one year before the headquarters and three companies moved to Zante. On New Year’s Day 1835, the Regimental strength was reported at 11 officers, 33 senior NCOs and 279 regular forces on Zante, along with 14 women and 33 children. Most members of a regiment were not married, and few were given permission for their wives and family to accompany them. It was also noted that the regiment was under-strength. Of the total roll, 498 regular forces in the 11th had between 7 and 21 years’ service. A summary of nationalities from the same report is also interesting - 60 Privates were English, 18 were Scottish and 339 were Irish. Given that the 11th was the North Devonshire Regiment, this may seem surprising; however, British regiments relied heavily on recruitment in Ireland. The history of the 11th also notes that ‘an average of twenty hospital admissions each month took place on Zante’ and that in December 1834 about forty people from the Regiment were dispatched to England for a ‘change of climate’.
The Regiment remained in Zante until June 1835, when they returned to Corfu, and left Corfu in January 1838 for Gibraltar (thence Canada for almost two years).
I have posted on my own ancestor's headstone on the island of Zante (William Gutridge, shown below) 'discovered' by Saria Monsen-Elvik. I also recently found an edition of Miscellanea Genealogica Et Heraldica (Vol 2 Fourth Series, pub. London 1908). Among the various items is a series of transcriptions of monumental inscriptions from 'British' cemeteries in the Ionian Islands. The volume notes that 'these inscriptions... have been communicated by Otho Alexander, Esq., British Vice-Consul, to Arthur F.G. Leverson-Gower, Esq., F.S.A.'
I have compiled the transcriptions from the above volume along with those communicated to me to be on Zante. Hopefully one day someone visiting the islands will be able to forward images of the headstones that remain over 100 years after the inscriptions were published. Only those positively identified as being 11th Regiment men (or family members) are included below.
Please e-mail me any other information you have.
Zante Cemetery(information from Saria Monsen-Elvik)
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF | SERT WILLIAM GUTRIDGE | LATE OF THE 11TH REGT OF FOOT | WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON | 19TH DAY OF DECR 1833 AGED 51 YEARS | THIS STONE WAS ERECTED BY THE | NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF | THE ABOVE REGT AS A TOKEN OF TH | EIR ESTEEM FOR A COMRADE WHO | HAD SERVED A PERIOD OF 27 YEARS | MOSTLY ON THE CONTINANT WITH | THE REGT AND WAS ENGAGED WITH | THEM AT THE UNDERMENTIONED | PLACED VIZ.- | AT SALAMANCA PIRENEES NIVELLE | NIVE ORTHES TOULOUSE
IN FRONT OF THIS STONE | LIES THE REMAINS OF SEJEANT | JAMES O'CONNOR LATE
ORDERLY | CLERK IN THE 11TH REGT | FOOT WHO DEPARTED THIS | LIFE ON THE 12TH OF MAY 1833 | AGED 59 YEARS | THIS STONE WAS ERECTED BY | COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE | ABOVE REGT AS A TOKEN | OF THEIR ESTEEM AND VERY GREAT REGARD
ORDERLY | CLERK IN THE 11TH REGT | FOOT WHO DEPARTED THIS | LIFE ON THE 12TH OF MAY 1833 | AGED 59 YEARS | THIS STONE WAS ERECTED BY | COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE | ABOVE REGT AS A TOKEN | OF THEIR ESTEEM AND VERY GREAT REGARD
Sgt. Frederick Debrick, Prussian, served with the 11th Regt for upwards of 22 years. Died 23 October 1834, aged 45.
A very worn headstone for a baby called Richard, 12 moths old, son of a Sgt.(?) serving the 11th
Santa Maura Roman Catholic Cemetery (these all from MGH)
To the memory of | THOMAS CUDDILEY, Pt 11 Regiment, who departed this | life on the 9 September 1833, aged | 28 years.
Sacred | To the memory of | JOHN BOWDEDGE, Private 11 Regiment | who departed this life on the 3 January | 1832, aged 22 years
Gloria in Excelcis Deus Gloria | I.H.S. | In front of this stone lays the | remains of | MARY REARDAUT alias CAHILL | wife of Sergeant Armourer JEREMIAH | REARDAUT, 11th Regiment of Foot, who | departed this life on the 27 October | 1831, aged 23 years
Santa Maura Protestant Cemetery (these all from MGH)
Sacred | To the memory of | ANNE, the wife of Lieut Colonel | KEIGHTLAY, H.M.'s XI Regiment of Foot | Resident of Santa Maura, who | departed this life on November | 6th 1831, Aged 37 years. Monument of White Marble.
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