Captain Joseph Clavey of the 29th Regiment of Foot

Captain Joseph Clavey of the 29th Regiment of Foot
born about 1770, died 1796)

Extracts from “The History of Thos Farringtons Regiment”, subsequently designated The 29th Worcestershire Foot 1694 to 1891, by Major H Everard, published 1891.

On the 4th of February 1796, the “Sally” transport with Captains J Clavey and Edgell Wyatt, Lieut R Duddingstone, Ensign Samuel Galindo, 4 serjeants, 3 drummers, 129 rank and file, arrived at Grenada.

Further reinfocements being expected, Brigadier-General Nicholls decided on their arrival to attack the enemy’s post at Port Royal situated on the windward side of the island. The position occupied by the insurgents was situated on a hill with very steep ascent, particularly towards the summit on which a fort had been constructed, armed with four 6-pounders and some swivel guns.

On the 22nd of March, General Nicholls with two troops of 17th Light Dragoons, 200 men of the 9th, 10th, 25th and 29th regiments, together with 500 of the Island Black Corps, marched to join the reinforcements which were daily expected and ordered to disembark near Port Royal.

On the 24th, detachments of the 8th and 63rd regiments with part of the “Buffs”, disembarked; two 6-pounders and a 5- inch howitzer were also got ashore and placed on a ridge about 1000 yards south of Port Royal.

During the night a battery was constructed and the following morning at daybreak fire was opened on the enemy redoubt. This disconcerted them very much but General Nicholl’s object being to close with the enemy as soon as possible, he determined to get on the same ridge with them, or, if he saw an opening, to attempt to carry the work by assault. For this purpose it was necessary to try and dislodge some strong parties which were posted on some heights to the left, as if intending to turn or threaten that flank. A strong black corps and 50 of the 88th Foot, the whole under Major Houston of the latter regiment, were therefore detailed for this service, but meeting with a reverse, the 8th (Kings) was ordered to support them, which it did eventually.

At this moment an alarming fire broke out in rear of the troops, near a place where on landing all the stores had been deposited. By the exertions of the men, these were all saved.
In the midst of these untoward circumstances, firing was heard from the ships-of-war which lay at anchor and it was ascertained that two French Schooners with reinforcements for the enemy, had arrived and were making for “Marquis”. As these were well within the range of the 6-pounders, General Nicholls immediately ordered one to be turned against them.

The situation of affairs was now so critical that not an instant was to be lost, and Brigadier General A. Campbell was ordered to proceed to the assault without delay. He therfore advanced with only the Buffs and the 63rd Regiment. The 8th (Kings) having, as before mentioned, been detached on another service, General Nicholls ordered up half of the 29th to replace them, also half of the 9th to assist if necessary. The 29th, having to march from Grand Bacolet and although it pushed forward as quickly as possible, did not arrive till after the Buffs had met with a check in consequence of the advantage the enemy had of the ground and of a very galling fire to which they were exposed.

Brigadier General Campbell then offered to carry the position with his regiment. The 29th accordingly, with orders not to fire, advanced to the assault, led by their colonel waving his hat and cheering them on. The enemy, elated by their recent success, delivered a sharp fire and advanced to meet them. The brushwood fence, where the Buffs had been checked, was passed steadily and in perfect order. Then with a rush the position was forced and scrambling in at the embrasures, the fort was carried at the point of bayonet, Captain Clavey being the first to enter.

On this, the enemy fled in all directions, some threw themselves down precipices, others tried to escape
down the hill under cover of the bush, but so heavy was the fire kept upon them that they were forced to try to escape along a valley where the detachment of the 17th Light Dragoons, under Captain Black and the St. George’s troop of light cavalry, rode them down and, though themselves exposed to a heavy fire of grape from the French schooners, cut down every man they saw, but few who had been in the fort escaped.

On the 10th of June, the French in the island under their commander Jossy, surrendered all their posts and by the 19th, the British were in full possession of all the enemy’s positions. Julien Fedon, a mulatto, the leader of the insurrection, with a few followers, escaped to the woods, but is supposed to have met with a watery grave whilst attempting to leave the island in a canoe.

By this time the 29th was so reduced in numbers that it was thought necessary to send it home. On the 11th of July, what remained of the regiment embarked for England and on the 15th sailed for Tortola to join the homeward-bound convoy. During the passage Captain Clavey, Lieut. Duddingstone and 13 privates died.

Gosport was reached on the 29th of September. On disembarking, the detachment - a mere skeleton of the regiment, for it consisted of but 2 captains, 3 subalterns, 10 serjeants, 14 corporals, 10 drummers and 53 privates - marched to Weymouth.


After the batallion had returned from Grenada, the whole regiment was sent to Cornwall in 1797 when a French fleet with 15000 men had assembled at Texel. However when the French sailed for Brest, Admiral Duncan defeated them off Camperdown and the fears of invasion receded.

In June 1798 the 29th was sent to Ireland when the Irish rebellion broke out and marched into Wexford to disperse the “rebels”. There seems to have been much murder and massacre on both sides (just like today). In August the French landed at Killalla Bay and were defeated by Cornwallis’ army. The 29th in a series of marches were sent to cut off the French retreat but don’t seem to have seen much action apart from mopping up.

They were then stationed in Ireland until they were ordered to return to England in July 1799 in readiness for the expedition to Holland led by the Duke of York. In August they landed at Helder and were met by volleys of musketry and a continued fire of light artillery. With “great gallantry and spirit” the 29th Grenadiers charged through the heavy sand and secured some vital positions.

By October they had advanced to Schagen and beyond. However when their Russian allies were defeated at Alkmaar, the 29th was ordered to retreat back to Schagen - only to advance again to Bergen where much bloody fighting took place. The enemy then brought up reinforcements of 6000 men and it was decided to withdraw the army to England.

In 1802 the regiment was sent to Nova Scotia and stayed ther until 1807, apparently not doing a
lot. The following May they joined a larger force under General Spencer and sent in secret to Cadiz
to assist the uprising of the Spanish, and then in July they re-embarked to joinWellington’s
force which had arrived at Mondego Bay. What then followed must surely be the 29th’s
finest hour.