Henry Despard

Henry Despard, born October 1783 at Laurel Hill, Mountrath, Queens County, Ireland, was the son of Captain Phillip Despard and Letitia Croasdaile.{{cite web |url=https://www.despard.eu/tree/getperson.php?personID=I340024500915&tree=Despard1 |title=Henry Despard, Maj Gen |website=Our Family History |access-date=7 September 2021}} Phillip, an officer of the 7th Regiment of Foot,{{cite news |title=List of Promotions for the Year 1761 |last=Urban |first=Sylvanus |work=The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle |volume=31 |publisher=D. Henry |location= London |date=1761 |page=604 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SqA3AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA604}} was one of five brothers from a prominent Anglo-Irish family of Huguenot descent who served in the British military.Oman, Charles William Chadwick (1922), Unfortunate Colonel Despard and Other Studies. London, Burt Franklin. p.2 The eldest brother, John Despard (1745–1829), rose to the rank of full General, while another, Colonel Edward Despard gained notoriety as a United Irishman and republican agitator executed in London for treason in 1803.

Henry Despard was commissioned as Ensign in the 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot on 25 October or 18 November 1799.{{cite book |author=War Office |title=A List of All the Officers of the Army and Royal Marines on Full and Half-pay with an Index: and a Succession of Colonels |publisher=War Office |location= |date=1805 |page=136 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfdRAAAAcAAJ}} He served in the Mediterranean from August 1802 to 1804, then sailed with the 17th Regiment, which embarked from the Isle of Wight, for the East Indies in July 1804.

The 17th Regiment arrived at Fort William, Calcutta, in December 1804. Augmented to 1260 officers and soldiers, they moved on in boats via Allahabad to Cawnpore{{rp|31}} in September 1805.

On 20 December 1806 two 17th Regiment companies under Lieutenant Colonel George William Hawkins marched out to reduce several forts of insurgent chiefs in the mountainous region of Bundelkand, which the Maratha had resigned to the British in 1804. Captain Despard took part in taking three forts, which put up little resistance. The siege of the strong fort of Chumeer / Chumar, near Konch, led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Stovin, proved to be an exception.{{cite web |title=The Stovin Brothers: Soldiers of Whitgift |website=Georgian Society for East Yorkshire |date=2023 |url=https://www.gsey.org.uk/page/734/the-stovin-brothers-soldiers-of-whitgift.html}} Here, Despard distinguished himself in the siege and storming of it, suffering a contusion in ascending the breach, with Lieutenant Peter McGregor killed fighting in it. Chumeer was captured at 4:00 pm on 29 January 1807. Hawkins mentioned Despard in despatches.{{cite news |title=Asiatic Annual Register, or a View of the History of Hindoostan and of the Politics, Commerce, and Literature of Asia |volume=4 |publisher=T. Caldwell and W. Davies |location=London |date=1807 | pages=165–166 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WyMoAAAAYAAJ&q=chumeer&pg=RA1-PA165}}{{cite book |last=Cannon |first=Richard |title=Historical Record of the Seventeenth, or the Leicestershire Regiment of Foot; Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1688, and of its Subsequent Services to 1848 |publisher=Parker, Furnivall, & Parker |location=London |date=1848 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/52793/52793-h/52793-h.htm}}{{rp|32}}

Dunde Khan had been appreciated for his neutrality during the war with Holkar and Scindia. However, having been unable to pay a tribute due to the British, been offended by a judge and magistrate's cultural insensitivity, executed the low caste messenger who'd served him with a subpœna, and declined appearance at a civil tribunal as his government was not subject to British civil jurisprudence, a military force under Major General Richard Mark Dickens, 34th Regiment, was sent out to his small mud-fort at Comona (modern Kamona, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh). Dunde Khán had the fort's defences prepared.{{cite journal |title=Annals of the British Army, 1807 |journal=The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, Part 3 |publisher=Richard Bentley |location=London |date=1833 |pages=570–571 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XB4YauXYqtAC&q=ghurnowrie&pg=PA571}}{{cite book |last=Philippart |first=John |title=The East India Military Calendar; Containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army |date=1826 |volume=3 |publisher=Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=srUIAAAAQAAJ |language=en}}{{rp|111}} Frederic Growse wrote: "in 1807, Dunde Khán, with his eldest son, Ran-mast Khán, held the fort for three months, though the garrison consisted of a mere handful of men."{{cite book |last=Growse |first=Frederic Salmon |title=Mathurá: A District Memoir. Part 1 |publisher=North-western Provinces' Government Press |location=|date=1874 |url=https://digital.nls.uk/dcn6/8050/80509420.6.pdf}}{{rp|61}} On 18–19 November 1807, four 17th Regiment companies and some Sepoy companies made their assault. "They were called off from this murderous scene—not without difficulty." The British casualties were 35 officers killed and wounded and 700 men.

Dunde Khan and his garrison abandoned Comona for the fort at Gunourie (modern Ginauri, to the north of Shikarpur, Bulandshahr), upon which British forces began their approaches on 24 November. Despard took part in the siege but,{{cite book |last=Hart |first=Henry George |title=The New Army List |location=London |publisher=John Murray |date=1849 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOgNAAAAQAAJ&q=battle+of+Jubbulpore+1818&pg=RA2-PA151}}{{rp|151}} the fort providing its garrison with little refuge from the shelling, Dunde Khan eventually abandoned Gunourie and escaped at about 7:00 pm on 10 December, across the river Jumna.{{cite book |last=Clarke |first=Hewson |title=The History of the War: From the Commencement of the French Revolution to the Present Time |volume=1 |publisher=T. Kinnersley |location=London |date=1816 |page=1816 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyAPAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Ghurnowrie%22+&pg=PA765}}

The troops returned to Muttra.{{rp|33}}

In November 1808, Despard with his regiment joined Major General St Leger's reserve force proceeding to the river Sutlej to territorially maintain Ranjit Singh's activity and the Sikh empire to the north of it. As little of interest was encountered, the 17th returned to Muttra in early May 1809 where it was reinforced with a detachment from England. In November, the 17th Regiment moved to Meerut for the next few years.{{rp|34}}

The 17th Regiment marched to Ghazeepore from November 1812 to January 1813. In April, Captain Despard marched four companies to Secrole, Benares and Mirzapore, to observe and intercept bands of Pindaree marauders in British territory, then returned in June.{{rp|34}}

In October 1817, 17th Regiment companies formed part of Brigadier General Frederick Hardyman's brigade ordered to march on Nagpore where British troops were surrounded. Captain Despard acted as Hardyman's Brigade Major. On 19 December they encountered enemy in battle order before Jubbulpore and attacked with the 8th Regiment of Native Cavalry capturing the guns in a charge and the 17th driving off the Arab infantry by bayonet causing them severe casualty. The 17th lost a few men, along with Lieutenants Maw and Nicholson wounded. The brigade continued on to Nagpore, but when waiting a few days at Lucknadoon for the elephants bringing up provisions, news arrived that the British troops at Nagpore had defeated the Arab forces—Battle of Sitabuldi. The 17th returned to Ghazeepore.{{rp|35–36}} Hardyman mentioned Despard in his despatch for the battle at Jubblepore.{{cite book |last=Hart |first=Henry George |title=The New Army List |location=London |publisher=John Murray |date=1849 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOgNAAAAQAAJ&q=battle%20of%20Jubbulpore%201818&pg=RA2-PA151 }}{{rp|151}}{{cite news |last=Despard |first=Henry |title=Extract from a Report from Brigadier-General Hardyman to the Adjutant General, dated Camp, Talwarah Ghaut, north bank of the Nerbudda River, 20th December, 1817 |work=The London Gazette |date=7 August 1819 |issue=17501 |pages=1384–1385 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/17501/page/1384}}

The regiment was stationed at Berhampore from 8 January 1821 to August 1822,{{rp|37}} where Despard, Brevet Major since 12 August 1819, advanced to Major by purchase on 22 April 1822. His service in India ended in July.

Back in England he married Anne Rushworth, fourth daughter of Edward and Catherine Rushworth of Farringdon Hill, Isle of Wight,{{cite news |title=Married |work=Baldwin's London Weekly Journal |date=5 June 1824 |location=London |page=1}} at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, on 1 June 1824. Between 1825 and 1830 they had five children of which two died in infancy.

He advanced to rank of Lieutenant Colonel through purchase on 13 August 1829. From 1830 the 17th Regiment began embarking in detachments for New South Wales, via Van Dieman's Land, to occupy various stations there. They returned to India in March 1836 and after landing at Bombay, moved on to Poona, then to a nearby camp in 1837.{{rp|39}}

Lieutenant Colonel Despard joined the Staff of Ireland, Southern District, headquartered in Cork, as Inspecting Field Officer on 22 January 1838,{{cite book |last=Hart |first=Henry George |title=The Army List for May, 1842 |location=London |publisher=War Office |date=May 1842 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-0NAAAAQAAJ&dq=army+list+1842&pg=RA4-PA96}}{{rp|68}} a position which he exchanged with Colonel Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant in September 1842 for command of the 99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot, which stationed at Athlone,{{cite news |title= War Office, 27th September 1842 |work=The London Gazette |date=27 September 1842 |issue=20145 |page=2604 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/20145/page/2604}}{{cite book |last=Hart |first=Henry George |title=The Army List for July, 1843 |location=London |publisher=War Office |date=July 1843 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nO0NAAAAQAAJ}}{{rp|51}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232481043 |title=The Army |newspaper=The Austral-asiatic Review, Tasmanian and Australian Advertiser |date=20 January 1843 |access-date=4 May 2021 |page=3 |via=Trove}} was destined for Van Dieman's Land and New South Wales{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226510426 |title=Sydney News |newspaper=Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser |date=17 January 1842 |access-date=5 May 2021 |page=4 |via=Trove}} with new colours.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36852043 |title=Presentation Of New Colours to the 99th Regiment |newspaper=The Australian |date=12 February 1842 |access-date=5 May 2021 |page=3 |via=Trove}}

The 99th arrived in Australia in detachments with successive shipments of convicts from early 1842. The Despards arrived at Hobart, Van Dieman's Land, on the Gilmore on 19 August 1843 with an officer, 50 soldiers of the 99th, and 249 male convicts{{cite news |date=25 August 1843 |title=Shipping Intelligence |page=2 |newspaper=The Courier (Hobart) |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2952237 |access-date=4 May 2021 |via=Trove}} and moved on to Sydney, New South Wales, in late September.{{cite news |date=30 September 1843 |title=Shipping Intelligence |page=2 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12426561 |access-date=4 May 2021 |via=Trove}} In Sydney Despard made himself unpopular by refusing to attend a ball thrown in his honour.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} He also refused to adopt modern drill methods, insisting on maintaining old-fashioned techniques, which reportedly caused chaos on the parade ground.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-02 |title=Te Ruapekapeka - Henry Despard |url=https://www.ruapekapeka.co.nz/cast-of-characters/henry-despard/ |access-date=2021-08-25 |website=Te Ruapekapeka |language=en}}

File:Ohaeawai Pah, 1845.jpg

File:The ohaeawai stockade.jpg, Major, 58th Regiment]]

In response to Hōne Heke's intentions, Despard and the headquarters of his regiment arrived in Auckland on barque British Sovereign on 2 June 1845, to take command of the troops in New Zealand{{cite news |title=Bay of Islands |work=The New-Zealander |volume=1 |issue=1 |date=7 June 1845 |page=2 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18450607.2.5}} and conclude what has been variously called Heke's War, the Northern War, Hōne Heke's Rebellion and the Flagstaff War. Confident in his command of 600 men, the largest British force yet seen in New Zealand, when Tāmati Wāka Nene was introduced to him to offer services, he bluntly replied: "When I want the help of savages I will ask for it."{{cite news |last=Hocken |first= |title=Early History of New Zealand |work=Otago Witness |issue=1823 |date=29 October 1886 |page=14 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18861029.2.34}} Captain Thomas Bernard Collinson, RE, later remarked on that matter:

Colonel Despard does not speak highly of the assistance he received from the native allies under Tomati-waka. They acted as guides, and gave information and advice about the country, and carried things on the march (for which they took care to get well paid): but they acted entirely in accordance with their own tactics: long talking, exciting preparations, sudden spurts, daring skirmishes for a little, and then talk again for a week. They desired to be friendly to the British: it was not to be expected that they should take a prominent part in a quarrel they had not much personal concern in—and for strangers against their countrymen. Colonel Despard's recommendation, "to be able to act independently of the natives" is worthy to be remembered by all officers.{{cite journal |last=Collinson |first=Thomas Bernard |title=2. Remarks on the Military Operations in New Zealand |journal=Papers on Subjects Connected with the Duties of the Corps of Royal Engineers |volume=New Series 3 |pages=5–73 |publisher=John Weale |location=London |date=1853 |url=https://www.nzsappers.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PapersVol3NS.pdf}}

On 24 June his troops were repulsed in their storming of Ōhaeawai, said to be the first Māori pā designed to resist artillery fire. British casualties amounted to some 41 killed and 70 wounded,{{cite news |title=Colonel Despard's Despatch |work=The New-Zealander |volume=1 |issue=7 |date=19 July 1845 |page=2 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18450719.2.7.2}} "nearly one-third of the force actually engaged."{{rp|33}} Despard attributed the main cause of the assault's failure to the abandonment, in the ravine, of hatchets, axes, ladders and ropes for putting down the stockade, by those appointed to carry them.{{cite news |title=Government Gazette |work=The Auckland Times |volume=3 |issue=131 |date=12 July 1845 |page=4 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AKTIM18450712.2.15}}{{cite journal |last=Despard |first=Henry |title=Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of New Zealand During the Months of June and July, 1845 (continued) |journal=Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. 1846. Part 3 |publisher=H. Hurst |location=London |date=1846 |pages=31–46, 252–267, 371–388 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmVcBW2zbNYC&dq=Narrative+of+an+Expedition+into+the+Interior+of+New+Zealand&pg=PA253}}{{rp|33}} He'd also noted:

The original intention was to have had a false attack made on the left face of the pah, at the same moment with the real one; but the unavoidable necessity of occupying the hill, which had been attacked in the morning, with a strong force, reduced my numbers so much that I had not a sufficient force to venture it.{{rp|33}}

The troops returned to their camp, undaunted either in mind and spirit, only regretting that the obstacles opposed to them were too strong to be overcome, and even in the moment of repulse wishing that another opportunity of attack might be offered them.{{rp|34}}

Officers, troops, contemporary newspaper reporters and later historians attributed the carnage to Despard's incompetence; to an "ill-tempered" decision to order a storming of the unbreeched palisades. After countermanding his own order to retreat, Despard resumed a bombardment. Early on 11 July, the pā was found to be empty and after destroying it Despard's force retired to Waimate.{{cite web|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|title=Despard, Henry|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1d9/despard-henry|access-date=2021-08-25|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en}}

File:The bombardment of ruapekapeka pa.jpg, Major, 58th Regiment]]

Following inconclusive peace negotiations, in November 1845 a new governor, George Grey, ordered Despard to begin operations against the formidable pā at Ruapekapeka. With a force of around thirteen hundred British troops and several hundred Māori allies from whom he was now ready to take advice, in January 1846 Despard prevailed. Despard claimed that Ruapekapeka Pā had been taken by assault, an account not backed by those under his command who reported that the Māori defenders had staged an orderly and planned withdrawal. The British Government in need of a "victory" allowed Despard's version of events to stand.

Despard left Auckland for Sydney by HEICS Elphinstone on 26 January 1846.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12885234 |title=Port Phillip |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=11 February 1846 |access-date=7 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}}

File:99th Regiment Memorial Anglesea Barracks.JPG Returned to headquarters in Sydney on 13 February 1846,{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article679097 |title=Sydney News |newspaper=The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser |date=18 February 1846 |access-date=7 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}} on 2 July Despard was appointed by Queen Victoria to be a Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath for his services.

On 22 December 1846, Despard's eldest daughter Sophia Elisabeth married Arbuthnot Dallas, 16th (Grenadiers) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, Assistant Secretary to the Military Board, Fort William, at St James's Church, Sydney.{{cite book |last=Dallas |first=James |title=The History of the Family of Dallas, and their Connections and Descendants from the Twelfth Century |publisher=T. and A. Constable Ltd |location=Edinburgh |date=1921 |page=393 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoffamilyo00dall/page/392/mode/2up |via=Internet Archive}}{{cite magazine |title=Marriages |last=Urban |first=Sylvanus |magazine=The Gentleman's Magazine |volume=28 (New Series) |issue=July¬–December |publisher=John Bowyer Nichols and Son |location=London |date=1847 |page=198 |url=https://archive.org/details/gentlemansmagaz281unkngoog/page/198/mode/2up?q=despard |via=Internet Archive}}{{cite news |title=Family Notices |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 December 1846 |page=3 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12898280}}

Stationed at Hobart, Van Dieman's Land, the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the 99th Regiment subscribed to and erected a Tuscan pillar monument in the barrack square to commemorate the twenty-four soldiers of the regiment who had fallen in the New Zealand campaign of 1845 and 1846. Colonel Despard attended the ceremonial laying of the first stone, the cornerstone, on Monday, 27 May 1850, and spoke of its meaning, observing that "a good soldier who may fall in the service of His Sovereign and Country will not be forgotten, but his memory will be held in grateful recollection, by his comrades who survive to share the laurels he has assisted to purchase with his life." He then read the inscription of a plaque, which was thereafter placed within a cavity below the stone. The monument was designed by Alexander Dawson of the Royal Engineers department.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2962835 |title=Local: Military Monument |newspaper=The Courier (Hobart) |date=29 May 1850 |access-date=12 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8767276 |title=Domestic Intelligence: Military Monument |newspaper=Colonial Times |date=31 May 1850 |access-date=12 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65975038 |title=Military Monument |newspaper=The Cornwall Chronicle |date=29 May 1850 |access-date=12 September 2021 |page=339 |via=Trove}}{{cite web |url=https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/colonial/display/70335-99th-regiment-memorial |title=99th Regiment Memorial |website=Monument Australia |date=2010 |access-date=12 September 2021}} The following inscription appears on the base:

This Pillar is erected by the voluntary subscriptions, of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the 99th Regiment to perpetuate the memory of the brave men who fell in the service of their Queen and country during the campaign in New Zealand in the years 1845 and 1846.

OFFICERS:

Lieut. Edward Beatty, Ensign E. M. Blackburn.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:

Sergt. Thos Todd.

PRIVATES:

Thos. Crook, George Mahey, Jas. Duff, Martin Moran, Jas. French, Jas. Maere, J. Heaton, Henry Moseley, Patrick Higgins, John Noble, J. Hill, W. Pope, James Hynes, Jas. Shaw, Robt. Hughes, Richard Stocks, Benjamin Keidy, Thos. Tuite, John McGrath, Wm. Watson.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10049390 |title=When British Troops Were Here |newspaper=The Mercury |volume=93 |issue=12,411 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=1 January 1910 |access-date=20 January 2023 |page=6 |via=Trove}}

Whilst commanding the forces in Van Diemen's Land, he advanced to rank of major general on 20 June 1854,{{cite journal |title=Brevet |journal=Supplement to the London Gazette |volume= |issue=21564 |publisher=Francis Watts |location=London |date=22 June 1854 |page=1933 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o_JMAAAAcAAJ&dq=%22Henry+Despard,+CB%22&pg=PA1933}} commenced preparations for the return trip to England,{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8776422 |title=Advertising |newspaper=Colonial Times |date=27 June 1854 |access-date=12 September 2021 |page=3 |via=Trove}} and finally took his leave of the 99th Regiment as Commanding Officer on 12 September.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2244902 |title=Military |newspaper=The Courier (Hobart) |date=21 September 1854 |access-date=11 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}} The only son, Frederick, a captain of the 99th Regiment, married Rosina Meredith on 7 November at St David's Cathedral, Hobart.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2244322 |title=Marriage |newspaper=The Courier (Hobart) |date=7 November 1854 |access-date=11 September 2021 |page=2 |via=Trove}}

The Despards sailed for London on the barque Wellington on 2 February 1855.{{cite news |date=5 February 1855 |title=Shipping Report |page=2|newspaper=The Hobarton Mercury |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3334848 |access-date=11 September 2021 |via=Trove}} Henry Despard died at Baring Crescent, Heavitree, Devon, England, on 30 April 1859, aged 75.

• {{cite news |last=Despard |first=Henry |title=Extract from a Report from Brigadier-General Hardyman to the Adjutant General, dated Camp, Talwarah Ghaut, north bank of the Nerbudda River, 20th December, 1817 |work=The London Gazette |date=7 August 1819 |issue=17501 |pages=1384–1385 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/17501/page/1384}}
• {{cite journal |last=Despard |first=Henry |title=Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of New Zealand During the Months of June and July, 1845 |journal=Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. 1846. Part 2 |publisher=H. Hurst |location=London |date=1846 |pages=567–583 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cd8RAAAAYAAJ&dq=Narrative+of+an+Expedition+into+the+Interior+of+New+Zealand&pg=PA567}}
• {{cite journal |last=Despard |first=Henry |title=Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of New Zealand During the Months of June and July, 1845 (continued) |journal=Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. 1846. Part 3 |publisher=H. Hurst |location=London |date=1846 |pages=31–46, 252–267, 371–388 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmVcBW2zbNYC&dq=Narrative+of+an+Expedition+into+the+Interior+of+New+Zealand&pg=PA253}}
• {{cite book |last=Despard |first=Jane |editor-last=Fireman |editor-first=Payton Despard |title=The Despards in Ireland, 1572-1838: As Recounted and Written by Ms. Jane Despard of Cheltenham, England in 1838 |publisher=Payton Fireman Attorney at Law |location= |date=2016 |isbn=9780983337669}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

• [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183959420902061 Colonial Secretary's papers 1822-1877], State Library of Queensland- includes digitised letters written by Despard to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales

{{DEFAULTSORT:Despard, Henry}}

Category:1783 births

Category:1859 deaths

Category:People from Mountrath

Category:Royal Leicestershire Regiment officers

Category:British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Maratha War

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Category:British military personnel of the New Zealand Wars

Category:19th-century New Zealand military personnel

Category:Flagstaff War

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath

Category:Military personnel from County Laois

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Category:18th-century British Army personnel

Category:19th-century British Army personnel