William Chalmers was born in Flisk parish, somewhere around Glenduckie, Fife, in 1793. He enlisted in the British Army at 15 years of age.
The following short story recalls a part of his life, shortly after his death in 1864.
Death of a Peninsular Hero.
On Thursday the 3rd inst., Sergeant Wm Chalmers, late of the Coldstream Guards died at Holton of Devon in his 71st year. Chalmers’ career as a soldier was short but active. He enlisted in the Coldstream Guards when fifteen years of age, and obtained his discharge in his 21st year, through being disabled by a severe wound he received at Bayonne, in the desperate sortie, which the French General Pierre Thouvenot made upon the Allies, four days after the Battle of Toulouse.
During the six years he was in service he was engaged in no fewer than fifteen Battles and skirmishes: all in the Peninsular Campaign. His medals bear the names of Vittoria, Salamanca, and Toulouse. The Sergeant loved to talk of his soldier life, and many are the anecdotes he told relative to it. At the siege of Burgos, which Wellington had to raise abruptly, Chalmers formed one of a party appointed to scale the walls. The attempt was made, but the order was given to retire, and when reaching the foot of the sealing ladder, his captain (Thomas Fraser, afterwards Lord Lovat) fell dangerously wounded. Notwithstanding his own danger, our hero lifted his officer and carried him off on his back, and though they were both tall, heavy men, they reached the trenches scatheless. He had many stories to tell, concerning the Duke of Wellington. In one of their harassing marches, through some official neglect, provisions were deficient, and the soldiers were in consequence loud in their complaints. It was evening and the men were without food. Wellington rode up to where Chalmers was standing and addressing the commissary, and pointing to a tree, said "Do you see that tree," "Well if by tomorrow morning, my soldiers have not full rations, you will be hanged on it." It need scarcely be added, there was no more shortness of provisions.
On the occasion of Queen Victoria's first visit to Scotland in 1842, the Sergeant had the honour of shaking hands with Prince Albert, and of being recognised by her Majesty, of which distinction he was naturally proud. Chalmers was an exceedingly powerful man; standing 6 feet 2 inches, was for nearly half a century in the employ of the Devon Iron Co. and latterly in the service of the Alloa Coal Co. He has bequeathed his medal to his nephew Captain Chalmers, of Indiana, a distinguished Federal officer.
The fighting at Bayonne occurred in the last days of the Peninsular War, after Napoleon had surrendered. However, the French troops in the field were not yet aware and continued fighting until forced to cease.
When he returned from the war, he took up employment at Devon Iron Works, and lived in a row house at Howetown, which is just outside of Fishcross.
William was married to Janet Fenton, and they had eight children:
David born 1824
Janet born 1827
Anne born 1828
Euphemia born 1830
William born 1832
Catherine born 1834
Jane born 1837
Robina born 1839
All of the children were born in Clackmannan parish.
Following his death, he was buried at the church graveyard in Clackmannan. He is buried along with his wife Janet Fenton (spelled Fenten on the headstone).
References
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