Death of Major Coane

General Orders: 5 Jan 1819 [at Kandy]

"In the course of the recent arduous service in the interior, the Commander of the Forces has had much too frequent occasion to lament the loss of gallant officers; but at no former time has his feelings of sorrow been more sensibly excited, than in performing the painful task of announcing to the Army the death of Major Coane of the 73rd Regiment, which melancholy event took place at Kandy on the 5th Inst. after the best hopes had been entertained of his recovery. The Lieutenant-general has in so many instances extolled the bravery, intelligence, and spirit of enterprise of this accomplished Officer, who in an eminent degree possessed the best qualities of a soldier; that there have been ample manifestations of the high opinion which the Commander of the Forces entertained of him - and it is with the keenest emotions of grief the Lieutenant-general condoles with his brother officers on a dispensation of Providence, which he knows will afflict them all; heightened as such affliction will be, from an intimate knowledge of Major Coane's distinguished merit, and deprived as they now unhappily are, of his animating example, and of his society, in the prime of his life."

Source:
Extract from General Orders 5 Jan 1819]
Press Cutting. [Unascribed]. Scrap Album, 73rd/2 BW, 1799-1918. BWRA 0736. [Black Watch Regimental Archive, Perth, Scotland].

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

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