Exactly who was the Adam Arnott who died in the Pleasant Creek (Stawell) Hospital on March 4, 1867 and was presumably buried in the Stawell Cemetery in an unmarked grave?
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No next of kin was recorded, but hospital records indicate that he was a Scottish soldier, single and a Presbyterian.
Adam was twice admitted to the hospital, initially from May 25 to August 10, 1865 when assessed as having chronic pleurisy and incipient phthisis (tuberculosis).
He was readmitted seven months later on March 8, 1866. He had previously been working at the Longerenong Station near Horsham and in Nine Creeks (Dimboola).
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Two earlier Scottish immigrants, brothers James and Archibald Arnott, arrived in Victoria in 1841 and 1850, respectively. Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, both brothers settled in Hamilton in western Victoria.
The brothers were known to have a younger brother called Adam who was born in Dunfermline on July 30, 1832.
However, the family connection with the Adam who died in Stawell only became apparent when the Crimean War Medal of an Adam Arnott was discovered in the possession of a descendant of Archibald Arnott.
Two months after his birth, Adam's mother (Christian) died of cholera during an outbreak in Dunfermline.
Adam was consequently raised by his father (William) and older siblings and in his youth he worked as a hand-loom linen weaver.
Later, when 19 years old, he enlisted as a private (Regimental No. 3,401) with the 71st Regiment of Foot (Highland Light Infantry) in Edinburgh on February 13, 1852.
Dunfermline was given as his place of birth. Adam was initially posted to Northern Ireland and Ireland before moving to the Greek Island of Corfu. Then, on February 7, 1855, he arrived at Balaclava to fight in the Crimean War.
He participated in the siege of Sebastopol but was then sent to eastern Crimea to help control the Strait of Kertch, the narrow passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The war finally ended with the signing of the 'Treaty of Paris' on March 30, 1856.
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Adam was awarded the Crimean War Medal with a 'Sebastopol clasp' (his name impressed on the rim of the medal) and the Turkish Crimea Medal issued by the Sultan of Turkey.
In January 1858, after a period in Malta, Adam proceeded to India to help quell the Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny). The 71st Regiment were heavily involved in the capture of Morar and the fortress at Gwalior in present day Madhya Pradesh.
Adam was awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal with a 'Central India clasp'. On October 16, 1862, after further time in India, he arrived in London and was sent to the 2nd Invalid Depot at Chatham.
He was discharged at Stirling in Scotland on November 6, 1862; he had served for 10 years and 264 days.
It seems likely that Adam arrived in Melbourne on January 4, 1864 aboard the Alhambra from Port Chalmers in New Zealand.
Passenger 'A. Arnott' was described as a single male, Scottish and aged 31 years; this agrees with Adam's details.
It is not known how he travelled to New Zealand, although having just completed his military service he may have been employed as a crewman on an incoming ship.
The gold rush in Otago was the obvious attraction; however, following diminishing success, by January 1864 thousands of so-called 'minors' were returning to Australia.
Adam's arrival in Victoria was a logical next step. No longer a lost soul, we can now honour Adam for his active service provided during his short life.
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