Portsmouth May 4th, 1854 Sir In obedience to Her Majesty's commands conveyed to me in your letter of yesterday's date, I have the honor to furnish you with the following statement of the services and character of Pipe- Major Wm. Ross of the Regiment under my command. He enlisted into the 42nd on the 1st March 1839 at the age of 17 years. He deserted on the 20th May 1839, was apprehended on the 30th November 1839, tried by District Court Martial and sentenced to two months imprisonment with forfeiture of all his service. In consequence of his subsequent good conduct he was restored to his service on the 4th October 1845, promoted to Corporal on the 21st March 1851, and to Sergeant and Pipe Major on the 6th January 1853. His name appears only twice, and for trifling offences in the Company's and Regimental Defaulters' Books. As a non-commissioned officer he has never been guilty of a single irregularity. His military character is therefore extremely good. I also sincerely believe him to be a respectable and moral man, and he bears that character universally in the Regiment. He is sober, steady, regular in his habits, active and willing, and not likely to give himself airs. Like all Highlanders he is a bit obstinate, but not to a troublesome extent. He is strictly honest and trustworthy. In addition to his other duties he has been employed for the last two years as Regimental Postmaster, and has constantly been entrusted with considerable sums of money. He is so useful a non-commissioned officer, that under any other circumstances I should very much regret the loss of his services. He is entitled to a free discharge. He is married to a respectable woman but has no children. I believe I have now supplied you with all the information you desire about Pipe Major Ross, and I beg to assure you that if I were aware of any defects in his character disqualifying him for the situation of her Majesty's Piper, I should be tempted rather to exaggerate than conceal them: for I shall be extremely mortified if his future conduct should be found not to correspond with the high character I have given him. Even the best soldiers however, when forced from the restraints of discipline to which they have been long accustomed are liable to change for the worse. I have a confident hope that this will not be the case with Sergeant Ross. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient humble servant DA Cameron Lt. Col. 42nd Regt. |