Edward Hughes ALSTON [4157]

  General Notes:

Alston. Lieut. 1841.
Edward Hughes Alston entered the Navy 26 Dec. 1826: passed his examination 15 Sept. 1835: obtained a commission 28 July 1841: and from 6 Aug. following until the close of 1842 served in the Mediterranean on board the Cambridge 78, Capt Edward Barnard. He next joined, on 11 Dec. 1844, the Hydra steam sloop, Capt Horatio Beauman Young, stationed off the coast of Africa, where, he became first lieutenant 2 Apr. 1845 of the Ranger 6, Capt James Anderson. Since 1846 he has been serving on the same station as acting Commander of the Pantaloon.
O'Byrnes Naval Biographical Dictionary. NZSOG.

The Times, Monday, Aug 09, 1841; pg. 7; Issue 17744; col A
Naval Intelligence.
Promotions: to the rank of Lieutenant - E H Alston 1835
Appointments: Lieut E H Alston to the Cambridge.

The Times 28 Oct 1842 Pg 6.
Courts Martial In The Mediterranean.
Malta October 15 (1842?)
A court martial assembled on Tuesday morning last, the 11th inst., on board of Her Majesty's Ship Impregnable, for the purpose of trying Lieutenant Edward H. Alston, of Her Majesty's ship Cambridge, for marked indifference in carrying into execution the orders of his Captain and Commander, and for having beaten Frances Fitzgerald, a volunteer of the first class, whilst onshore at Besika, and using violent language to him.
The Court, which was composed of Rear Admiral Sir J. Louis, Bart., president; Captain Robert Maunsell of Her Majesty's ship Rodney; Captain Thomas Forest, of Her Majesty's ship Impregnable; Captain Sir J. Stirling, Knt., of Her Majesty's ship Indus; Captain the Hon George Grey, of Her Majesty's ship Belvidera; and Mr Brown, officiating judge-advocate, after hearing the evidence brought forward by the prosecutor, as well as what the prisoner had to say in his defence, found him Guilty of the charge, and sentenced him, the said Edward H. Alston, to be dismissed the service.

The charges leading to the court martial on Lieutenant Alston were founded on the following letters:

Cambridge, Besika Bay, July 18.
Sir, I regret be under the necessity of reporting to you and drawing your attention to, a line of conduct Lieutenant Edward H. Alston, of this ship, has thought proper to pursue, in carrying on the duties of his station when the whole of the ship's company and officers were required on deck, more particularly on yesterday afternoon, when the ship was got under weigh for the purpose of working up for this anchorage, when the marked indifference shown by Lieutenant Alston in carrying into execution the orders of both myself and the Commander called from me a rebuke for his inattentive conduct, he having placed himself in an inactive posture on the quarterdeck gratings, scarcely gaining to repeat an order, or attempt to execute it himself. On shortening sail to anchor, my immediate attention was taken up in placing the ship in a proper berth, when I heard Commander Wilson order Lieutenant Alston to have the port preventer mainbrace manned, to square the yard; after a short interval Commander Wilson again said to Mr Alston, "have the goodness to see my orders executed yourself" and immediately afterwards he exclaimed, "this is too bad; this is what I did not expect from an officer". On my turning round I observed Lieutenant Alston looking Commander Wilson full in the face in a most aggravating and contemptuous manner, with his hand to his hat, drawling out " which brace did you say Sir?" Without attempting to move, until he saw my attention drawn to the circumstance.
Considering such insubordinate contact dangerous to the discipline of the ship, I have thought proper to suspend Lieutenant Alston from duty until your pleasure shall be known. And I beg further to state, that Lieutenant Alston's conduct under my command has not been such as to establish that confidence between him and me which ought to exist between a Captain and his officers; but, on the contrary, such as, if persisted in, is calculated seriously to injure the discipline of the ship.
I have etc.,
Edward Barnard, Captain.

Vice Admiral Sir E. Owen, KCB GCH
Commander in Chief etc.

Cambridge, Besika Bay, July 29.
Sir, referring you to my letter of the 18th inst., wherein and I have felt it my duty to lay before you a statement of the conduct of Lieutenant Edward H. Alston, of this ship, on the afternoon of the previous day, and informing you that I had deemed it expedient for the good disciplines of the ship to suspend that officer from further duty until your pleasure on the subject should be made known to me, it now becomes doubly painful to me to again advert to Lieutenant Alston's conduct subsequent to that date, and to lay before you a complaint made to me through Commander Wilson of this ship from Mr Frances Fitzgerald, a volunteer of the first class, stating that, while onshore on a shooting party, of which Lieutenant Alston was one, on Monday the 25th inst., Lieutenant Alston did, for causes here after assigned, violently strike and beat Mr Fitzgerald with a stick, procured for the purpose by Lieutenant Alston's servant, until he broke it over his back, calling him a liar, a son of a bitch, and other violent language, unbecoming the character of an officer. Enclosed is a copy of Mr Fitzgerald's statement of the affair, which to me appears substantially correct, and I beg leave to submit the case for your consideration. Mr Fitzgerald has served upwards of two years in the ship, is a stout well grown lad between 15 and 16 years of age, and is generally considered inoffensive and good-tempered.
It may, Sir, be necessary for me to explain why I had under Lieutenant Alston's unpleasant circumstances granted him the indulgence of going ashore; but, considering the bad example of his conduct referred to in my letter to you had been removed by his being suspended from duty, and the probability of the Cambridge being some days longer from your flag, I did not wish to place any unavoidable restriction on his recreations, therefore gave him permission with the other officers to visit the shore; and it was at Lieutenant Alston's own request that Mr Fitzgerald was permitted to accompany him.
I have etc.,
Edward Barnard, Captain.

Vice Admiral Sir E. Owen, KCB GCH
Commander in Chief etc.

Cambridge, Besika Bay, July 27.
"I went onshore the 25th of July with Lieutenant Alston, Mr Groves, and Mr Bould, shooting, and after we had done we sat down under a tree to have lunch, and when I had done, I asked Mr Alston for the loan of his gun, which he granted, and also Mr Alston's servant got Mr Mould's gun. After discharging the gun, which Mr Alston gave me loaded, when I came to load his gun I found the screws of the top of the ramrod gone, and as soon as I came up to his servant told him of it, and he told me the screws of Mr Mould's were gone also. When I had done with Mr Alston's gun I returned it to him, and said that the top was off his ramrod, and he told me it was not of when he lent it to me, and I told him that it was. He then ordered his boy to bring him a stick, which he did; and, after licking me until he broke the stick over my back, he then called me a liar and a son of a bitch and I told him I was not a liar, or a son of a bitch. He then ordered his boy to bring him another stick. He told me, that if I looked at him he would give me another licking, and, waiting there a short while, I went over the other side of the stream until we were going on board.
Frances Fitzgerald,
Volunteer of the First Class.

Edward is said to have gone to the Antipodes, however the Naval Biographical Dictionary, shows him remaining in the Service after his Court Marshall?

Alston Edw. H. Rank L., Cr. (Ag); Ship Pantaloon; Captain Self; Date of Appointment 12 May 1846; Date of Discharge 25 June 1846.
Ref: Appointments to Ships British Naval Biographical Dictionary 1849.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, St John St Marylebone LND. Edward is recorded as aged 25 in the Navy born London