23 January 1818:
death of Lieutenant John McConnell

"It is with sincere concern that we report the death of Lt. McConnell of H.M. 73d Regt. This gallant young Officer died at Batticaloa on the 23d ult. he had suffered from severe illness in the month of October and it is feared that his zeal to enter upon the active duties of his profession induced him to take the Field before his strength was sufficiently restored; he left Kandy on the 27th of October and in three days he marched to Oosanwelly a distance of nearly 60 miles over a most rugged and mountainous country; he was after some time again taken ill and forced to retire to Badulla, from whence, having remained several days without any improvement in his health, he was moved for the benefit of a change of Air to the Sea Coast; his disorder, a Dysentery, was unfortunately too far advanced, and on the Evening of the 23d of January he expired without struggle. Lieut. McConnell was a young man of a most prepossessing appearance and had distinguished himself in some of the memorable Actions in which his Regiment had been engaged on the Continent of Europe; he was severely wounded both at the the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom and in the Glorious Battle of Waterloo."

Source:
Ceylon Government Gazette [No. 885] Saturday 7 February 1818 p.4b.

Manuscript Transcripts
Transcript prepared by Robin Walsh
Macquarie University Library, Sydney, Australia. © 2004

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