34 
THE BROME-WALTON FAMILY. 
than on keeping an fait to professional “ details." Due allowance was 
not made by Colonel Belford (himself an ex-cadet) for the rapidity with 
which the really able man—whether from the Academy or from the 
Ranks—adapts himself to the necessities of his environment ; and so 
greatly had the new school of Bomb Officers R.A. commended themselves 
to Admiral Nelson that on one occasion he almost denuded the R.A. 
garrisons in West Indies of officers and gunners to man some of his 
ships* while the 1803-4 list* already given* proves that His Lordship's 
confidence was maintained to the end. 
We are thus indebted to the hero of Culloden* and to a V.C. anno¬ 
tator for insight into this 18th century episode. 
* * * * * 
On the trackless deep the Bromes have been our pilots to navigate 
the Royal Artillery to the haven whence the future historian will have 
to muster the Bombs and Gun-Boats which earned the regimental 
charter of our heritage in the glorious achievements of the British Navy 
in sweeping England's enemies from the seas* up to that historic moment 
when the immortal Nelson yielded up his spirit on the quarter-deck of 
the Victory . 
On land* the siege of Beau-sejour, 1755* has brought us nigh to 
the end of the historical “ jungle," since Charles Brome led the way* in 
April 1698, when as yet the R.A. was not a permanent establishment; 
and now that the Committee of R.A. Institution have given its mem¬ 
bers the hitherto unpublished details of the Siege of Minorca * 1756* 
we are about to emerge into the light of day* with only a dense 
wood at Minden through which to drive the artillery field batteries 
into action at a trot. 
The year 1757 gladdens the heart of the military historian, and 
lightens his labour. It is the birth year of continuous professional 
journalists* who now bear him company and provide historical materials 
ready to his hand. The conjoint Navy and Army expedition of 1757* 
to America* brought out its chronicler* Lieut. John Knox* 43rd regi¬ 
ment—a scholar and diarist of large powers of observation—in whose 
mines every historian of the period has wrought. 1 2 The R.A. with that 
expedition 3 consisted of a Train of two companies* under Lieut.-Colonel 
Williamson (who was promoted Colonel* to be on a par with Colonial 
Commanding Officers), for operations on land ; and four bomb-ships 
(with Tenders) to co-operate with the fleet—two with Admiral Hol- 
1 “Journal of Campaigns in North America ” (Knox), published 1769. 
2 The two newly raised battalions of Highlanders , created by Koyal Warrant in London Gazette 
22nd January, 1767 (1st Battalion commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Archibald Montgomery, 2nd 
Battalion by Lieut.-Colonel Simon Fraser), accompanied, to undergo their British baptism of fire, 
not by sprinkling but by whole-bodied immersion. On arrival, in 1767, a wing was quartered at 
Fort Cumberland (Beau-sejour), where also a B.A. detachment, of Capt. Chas. Brome’s Company, 
and of 43rd Regt. were in garrison. The Highlanders could not understand English, and on one 
of them coming out of an adjacent wood, with long dishevelled hair over his shoulders and 
wrapped in dark coloured plaid, and not answering the challenge, he was shot dead by the infantry 
gentry, who reported to the sergeant of the guard that he had killed an Indian. On learning the 
truth, the unhappy sentry fell ill, and his life was despaired of during many days. (Knox’s 
“Journal,” Vol. I., p. 48). At Louisbourg, the infantry battalions were ordered to leave their 
swords behind (on the Transports), only the Grenadiers of the light companies going into action 
with the sword—(Knox, Vol. I., p. 160); and the Wooden Horse punishment (of Chap. I.) was 
still in force. (Knox, 1/97.) 
