130 KINGSBRIDGE 



on his return from the West Coast of Africa, entered 

 the Navy in 1861, and since that period has been suc- 

 cessively employed in the allied expedition to Mexico, 

 for nearly four years on the China station (where he was 

 present at the bombardment of Kagosina and Simonassaki) 

 and afterwards on the North American station, as Sub- 

 Lieutenant in H.M.S. Royal Alfred. He became a Lieutenant 

 June 1st, 1869, and was subsequently appointed to the 

 training ship Indefatigable, and then to the Volage. In 

 March last Mr. Wells was made First Lieutenant of H.M.S. 

 Barracouta, which proceeded to the West Coast on the affairs 

 of the Ashantee expedition. While crossing the Bay of 

 Biscay the Lieutenant courageously leaped overboard, and 

 saved a man of his ship. On June 13th, at the action 

 at Elmina, he greatly distinguished himself by leading 

 a small body of Barracouta men against the Ashantees, 

 receiving the thanks of his commanding officers upon 

 the field for his great skill and decision. 



He was subsequently thanked by the Commander-in- 

 Chief for gallantly landing despatches through a heavy 

 surf, and was afterwards left in command of a small naval 

 brigade at Abrakrampa, where, too, he rendered effective 

 service. The fatal fever of that region was the cause of 

 his untimely death. Lieutenant Wells was the second 

 son of the Rev. Thomas Bury Wells, rector of Portlemouth, 

 Devon, (formerly in the navy) by Catherine Frances, his 

 wife, eldest daughter of the Rev. William Stockdale, rector 

 of Wilby, Northamptonshire. His ancestors in the female 

 line were the old Devon race, the Fortescues of Fallapit." 



In addition to the foregoing, it may be mentioned, that 

 at the time of his death, Lieutenant Wells was on his 

 way home, in order to take the command of Her Majesty's 



