30 May 1818:
the death of Private Pitcairne

"... On the 2nd instant a most heroic instance of gallantry was displayed by a private soldier of the 73rd, who sacrificed his own life rather than desert his wounded companion. A small party going from Teldeniya to Badulla was attacked by a great number of Rebels, lurking as usual in the jungle, when a private of the 73rd Regiment had his thigh broken by a musquet ball. He fell and was of course unable to move. To the soldier who attempted to assist him he said: "It is of no use, you must leave me here to die." "No," cried his comrade, "I will never leave you." He was as good as his word, and remained with the wounded man, defending him as well as he could by a constant fire, until overpowered by their barbarous enemy, whose courage increased as the danger was diminished, both were killed. There are no doubt, in the 73rd and in every other Regiment in H.M.'s Service many soldiers who would expose themselves readily to the most imminent danger for chance of saving a comrade's life. But this man encountered certain death for the sake of a brother soldier, without a hope of success; his noble spirit could not bear to inflict the cruel pang which his wounded helpless companion must have felt on seeing his last friend retreating, and the savage Kandyans rushing on to his destruction. The name of this gallant fellow was Pitcairne: and it well deserves to be kept in remembrance, associated with an action that does honour to human nature. He has left a widow."

Source:
Ceylon Government Gazette: Supplement 30 May 1818.

Manuscript Transcripts
Transcript prepared by Robin Walsh
Macquarie University Library, Sydney, Australia. © 2003

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