Severus William Lynam Stretton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Severus William Lynam Stretton (November 7th 1783 – 22 November 1884) was a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.
and was baptised at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
on 29 May 1793. His name of Severus followed his parents habit of naming their children with unusual names that begin with "S". He was their second child called Severus as an earlier child had died young ten years before.
On 24 October 1851 he married the Hon. Catherine Adela de Courcy, youngest daughter of John Stapleton de Courcy, 28th Baron Kingsale. There were seven children from the marriage which survived him including:
He died at Southampton on 22 November 1884.
, and joined the regiment in Portugal, serving in the second Peninsular campaign of 1812-13.
Having been severely wounded at the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, by two musket balls which lodged in his body. He was removed, in a very precarious state, to England. (Prior to this, one of the balls was extracted, but the other, at different periods, was a source of great trouble and pain, relieved only by severe surgical operations until it was successfully extracted in 1870.) The medical treatment he received at his father’s house at Lenton Priory
restored him so far that after twelve months he was enabled to rejoin his regiment stationed in Ireland.
He accompanied the same regiment to Canada in 1818, and in 1825 was promoted to an unattached company, shortly after which he exchanged to the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
, and joined it at Gibraltar. He was promoted major in 1832. He succeeded to the lieutenant-colonelcy and command of this regiment in 1842, having accompanied it to the West Indies and Nova Scotia
, from whence he returned with it in 1843. He had, in the meantime, inherited the Lenton property from his brother Sempronius Stretton
but never resided there.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton, in 1848, exchanged to his brother’s old regiment, the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
, of which he retained the command until June, 1852. He was awarded the Military General Service Medal
and was also in receipt of a pension for wounds.
He retired in 1852 from active service, but three years later was appointed to the command of the Hampshire Artillery Militia, which he held until 1868, when he retired at the age of 75.
In 1862 Colonel Stretton was appointed a Justice of the Peace
for the Borough of Southampton
, and he took an active part in the management of the Royal South Hampshire Infirmary
, Southampton Dispensary and other charitable institutions in the town.
His medals are held in Medal Case 27, Display Group 24 in the Durham Museum and Art Gallery.
Family
He was the youngest child of William StrettonWilliam Stretton
William Stretton was a builder and architect based in Nottingham.-Family:He was the eldest child of Samuel Stretton and was baptised at Lenton on April 20, 1755....
and was baptised at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the largest mediæval building in Nottingham....
on 29 May 1793. His name of Severus followed his parents habit of naming their children with unusual names that begin with "S". He was their second child called Severus as an earlier child had died young ten years before.
On 24 October 1851 he married the Hon. Catherine Adela de Courcy, youngest daughter of John Stapleton de Courcy, 28th Baron Kingsale. There were seven children from the marriage which survived him including:
- William, de Courcy Stretton 1852, later a lieutenant in the Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
who wrote the words to Follow the ColoursFollow the Colours"Follow the Colours" is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar, with words by Capt. William de Courcy Stretton. The song is for male voice solo with an optional chorus of male voices....
which was set to music by Sir Edward Elgar.
He died at Southampton on 22 November 1884.
Career
He obtained a commission in the Nottinghamshire Militia in Plymouth in 1810, and accompanied the regiment to Ireland. In 1812 he obtained an ensigncy in the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)
The 68th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1758 and amalgamated into The Durham Light Infantry in 1881. It saw action during the Seven Years War before being converted to Light Infantry in 1808. Fighting with distinction in the Peninsular Army under Arthur...
, and joined the regiment in Portugal, serving in the second Peninsular campaign of 1812-13.
Having been severely wounded at the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, by two musket balls which lodged in his body. He was removed, in a very precarious state, to England. (Prior to this, one of the balls was extracted, but the other, at different periods, was a source of great trouble and pain, relieved only by severe surgical operations until it was successfully extracted in 1870.) The medical treatment he received at his father’s house at Lenton Priory
Lenton Priory
Lenton Priory was a Cluniac house founded by William Peverel in the early 12th century. The exact date of foundation is unknown but 1102 is frequently quoted.-Cluniac Priory:...
restored him so far that after twelve months he was enabled to rejoin his regiment stationed in Ireland.
He accompanied the same regiment to Canada in 1818, and in 1825 was promoted to an unattached company, shortly after which he exchanged to the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot
The 64th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was created as the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Foot in 1756, redesignated as the 64th Regiment of Foot in 1758, and took a county title as the 64th Regiment of Foot in 1782...
, and joined it at Gibraltar. He was promoted major in 1832. He succeeded to the lieutenant-colonelcy and command of this regiment in 1842, having accompanied it to the West Indies and Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, from whence he returned with it in 1843. He had, in the meantime, inherited the Lenton property from his brother Sempronius Stretton
Sempronius Stretton
Colonel Sempronius Stretton CB was a officer in the British Army who served in numerous campaigns including the Battle of Waterloo. He is also known for his sketches that recorded early Canadian life.-Early life:...
but never resided there.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton, in 1848, exchanged to his brother’s old regiment, the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot
The 40th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1717 and amalgamated into The Prince of Wales's Volunteers in 1881.-Formation:...
, of which he retained the command until June, 1852. He was awarded the Military General Service Medal
Military General Service Medal
The Military General Service Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1847, for issue to officers and men of the British Army.The MGSM was approved on 1 June 1847 as a retrospective award for various military actions from 1793–1814; a period encompassing the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic...
and was also in receipt of a pension for wounds.
He retired in 1852 from active service, but three years later was appointed to the command of the Hampshire Artillery Militia, which he held until 1868, when he retired at the age of 75.
In 1862 Colonel Stretton was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the Borough of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, and he took an active part in the management of the Royal South Hampshire Infirmary
Royal South Hampshire Hospital
The Royal South Hants Hospital, known locally as "The RSH", is an acute hospital in Southampton. It has been managed by Southampton City Primary Care Trust since 31 March 2007 with some additional services being provided by the Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust...
, Southampton Dispensary and other charitable institutions in the town.
His medals are held in Medal Case 27, Display Group 24 in the Durham Museum and Art Gallery.