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A Casualty of 1810

A Casualty of 1810

 

Yates Tomb

Yates Tomb

Tomb’s inscription: SACRED to the MEMORY of JOSEPH YATES Esq Commander of the Honorable East India Company’s SHIP CITY OF LONDON, Who having volunteered his Services and those of his Crew to assist at the Attack fo the French Forces on this Island DIED of excessive fatigue in the zealous execution of the duty assigned him On Thursday the 29th Day of November 1810 THIS TRIBUTE of RESPECT Is offered To His Memory by the Officers of His Majesty’s 14th Regiment of Foot & the Other Passengers on Board the City of London Who have had a full Opportunity of appreciating his genuine Worth & of witnessing the Ardour with which he embarked in the Service of his Country As an Officer possessed of the most distinguished Patriotism and disinterested Zeal THE PUBLIC HAVE REASON to REGRET HIS LOSS & All who were acquainted with theVirtues of his private Character must participate int he feelings of those who have caused this Monument to be erected AD MDCCCXI

Yates’ death is mentioned in several of the accounts of the capture of Mauritius. The diary of Bayly, an officer in the 12th Regiment noted “a gallant captain of one of the Indiamen, who had volunteered his services, died through fatigue and exhaustion, his death being attributed to a coup de soleil; the rays of the sun on that day were as fierce as any I ever recollect, even in India.

The Asiatic Review reported, “Several men and two officers, employed in the arduous but useful task of bringing up the artillery and stores, sunk under the excessive heat and labour of the day, and were left dead on the march. Among the latter were lieutenant Dove, of the 14th regiment, and captain Yates, of the City of London, Indiaman.

We would like to hear from anyone who is related to Captain Yates, and anyone who wants to share their family history or post a question on this page of the magazine.

© mauritius mag

 

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