X/POOLE/6307
MEMORANDUM from Thomas Holder, a pensioner at the Chest of Grenwich, Caernarfon, North Wales, to one of the commanders of the army. Stresses that he is a loyal and loving soldier and subject. He has a lot to say about the contribution he has made in training and disciplining soldiers in the army and of the damage they do to the enemy. He describes the methods with which he has trained them. Also describes his army, the height, ages, clothing and baggage of his men, methods of securing their guns, etc. He explains the great merits of a blunderbuss in a charge and the most effective methods of positioning and using them (the men should wait to fire, until they see the whites of the enemy’s eyes). He apologises for the poor way in which he expresses himself but adds that the real test is in action. He hopes these tips will be of use in the event of an invasion by Buonaparte. He also stresses the advantages of a blunderbuss in warfare at sea for use by boarding parties. At the end is a brief biography. He was born in 1738. In 1756 he served on the Monmouth Man of War under Capt. Harrison. In 1756 he served on board the Oxford Man of War under Capt. Spiry as a private marine. He was wounded in the seige of Lewisburgh. In 1759 he acted as a Drill Sergeant in the 85th Regiment of Foot under General Crawford. He was discharged in 1763 but served in the Devonshire militia. He is now 70 years old and in receipt of a pension.
Cyngor Gwynedd