North Barracks Graves

Passing these headstones you will note a large number are from the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

One headstone of particular interest is that of Lieutenant Thomas Henry Algernon Stevens. Although not a Royal Marine, Lieutenant Stevens carried the Colours of the 1st Royals at the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815. He died 8th December 1865.

Another headstone of significance belongs to John Woon and his wife Sarah.Quartermaster John Woon was a Sergeant in the Royal Marines Light Infantry and served on HMS 'Investigator' with Captain McClure on its voyage to the Arctic to find the ill-fated ship of Sir John Franklin in his attempt to establish the North West Passage. Woon not only distinguished himself in providing this equally ill-fated crew with fresh meat during its three-year-long incarceration in the ice off Banks Island in the Bay of Mercy but rescued, and in heroically saving the life of another crew member, he was made a Colour Sergeant and later uniquely received the Arctic Gallantry Medal 1853 for life-saving and his hunting prowess! Later, in 1859, he was awarded a Meritious Service Medal and the China Medal as well as being mentioned in despatches after action at the Taku Forts in the Chinese Wars ‘having saved the life of a wounded comrade under fire’ and on his return to England he was promoted Quartermaster-Lieutenant despite being drawn from the ranks, and posted to the new depot at Deal, where he served until his death as a serving officer in March 1877.