Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/120

 «6 THE NEW SOUTH WALES COBPS. ^"^•^ According to a statement of services prepared by himself^ he received a Commission as ensign in the 52nd Begiment in January, 1775, and soon afterwards was fighting in the At Bunker's American War of Independence. He was at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, and was afterwards twice wounded — once at the storming of Fort Montgomery, and once at Monmouth Court-house. He had to leave America because of his Hi8 wounds, and was employed as captain in recruitinjr for two subsequent • -ri i j t^ • x xi. • • j career. years m England. It was owing to the experience gamed in this work, no doubt, that he obtained the privilege of raising the New South Wales Corps. Six years before he undertook this duty he had been promoted to the rank of major in the 96th Regiment, and while serving in New South Wales he received further promotion as lieutenant-colonel. In 1795 he was obliged to return to England in consequence of his wounds breaking out, and was subsequently placed upon the stafE, becoming colonel in 1798, and major-general in 1805. The statement, to which Grose's name is appended, covers nearly thirty-five years of military service. That Grose enjoyed the confidence of the British Government A dual is shown by the fact that he was not only placed in command ment of the Corps, but honoured with a Commission making him Lieutenant-Governor of the colony, in which position it fell to him to administer its affairs for two years. It is evident also that he was personally known to the Home Office officials, for in writing to the Under Secretary soon after his arrival in Sydney he addressed him as ^^ My dear friend.'' Captain The senior captain, Nicholas Nepean, was the brother of epean. jjvau Nepcau, the Under Secretary of the Home Office. The first record we have of his services is his appointment to the post of second lieutenant in the 58th Company of the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines. The date is 15th December, 1776. In this capacity he served under Admiral Keppel in the engagement off Brest, 27th July, 1778. Pro- moted to the rank of first lieutenant of the 120th Company^