Sgt. Robert Newman - Battle of Waterloo :

[Iain...]

Good afternoon everyone…
Once again, RootsChat to the rescue…

I specifically updated my ‘Find my Past’ subscription to research this man and others who were present at Waterloo.  Unfortunately, with him, I have a ‘wall.’  Any info would be appreciated to allow me to continue the research. 
The problem with this man  is the fact that he was Court-Martialled…, so, no Waterloo Medal.  In addition, having been Court-Martialled, and according to his Discharge Papers Article ‘4,’ should mean that he did not receive a pension. 
However, there’s the problem, in that two others who were in in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards were also Courts-Martialled…, but they received a pension.  A complicated state of affaires which I can explain, but I’d be losing focus.

What I know…
On his Court-Martial document, he was known as Rob Newman.  He was a Sergeant at Waterloo and served with the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.  One week later he was demoted to Private.  He served in the Light Company at Hougoumont, and his Company Commander was Lt. Col. Wyndham. (however, Wyndham could have been a replacement)     
Probably born about 1785’ish.  English/Scottish. 

Thanks in advance…, Iain.   

[alan o]

Wyndham was at Waterloo and badly wounded in the battle and transfered out of the Guards in 1816

https://britishempire.co.uk/forces/10thhussarshenrywyndham.htm

So not a replacement but the Company Commander in the battle.

[Andy J2022]

However, there’s the problem, in that two others who were in in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards were also Courts-Martialled…, but they received a pension.  A complicated state of affaires which I can explain, but I’d be losing focus.

Iain, the first thing you need to know is that there were three types of court martial, each with different powers of punishment. A regimental court martial was just an extension of the powers of the commanding officer, and dealt with relatively minor military offences; drunkenness, minor disobedience, failure to attend parade etc. The punishment a regimental court martial could award tended to be a fine not exceeding 28 days pay, confinement to barracks and minor floggings. A sergeant would not normally be dealt with be a regimental court martial unless it was a very trivial offence. Senior non-commissioned officers (SNCOs) such as sergeants and colour sergeants were more likely to face a district court martial (they were not known by this title in 1790) which had additional powers of punishment such as the ability to send a man to prison for extended periods, with or without hard labour,  severe flogging, and in the case of SNCOs, to be reduced to the rank of private. The highest level was the General Court Martial which dealt with the most serious offences for which the death penalty might awarded.
A sentence from a District or General Court martial would usually result in a pension being denied, but on the other hand an act of gallantry in battle could outweigh the fact of an earlier court martial sentence, as would particularly severe wounds or disability arising from battle, sometimes tipping the balance towards a pension being awarded. The Army was mindful of the effect on the public, and future recruiting, if it appeared to abandon its old and disabled soldiers without a pension, unless it could be shown that they had forfeited their pension through egregious behaviour.and ill discipline. 

[Iain...]

Thank you Alan.  Thank you Andy.

Yes, as you say, (Wyndham) he was blinded in one eye during the first breach of the Northgate.  I’ve not looked at the Roll Call, but I’m sure he was with another Company when they retreated from Quatre-Bras.  On the day, he commanded the Coldstream Light Company with the infamous Sgt. James Graham.  Graham was in charge of the platoon that maintained the security of the compound, while Newman was in charge of the platoon that entered the wood.  All 34 Guardsmen leaving the wood (from both Regiments) were Courts-Martialled. 

Andy, very interesting.  I have the Courts-Martial documents, and I’d be inclined to say that with the trial being a scapegoat affair, and only a few days following the battle on the road to Paris, it was probably the first…, a Regimental Court-Martial. (despite RHQ knowing nothing about the affair)
Newman received 150 lashes, (or was that 100…, must look) where-as the two Scots Guardsmen who received a pension, they received 300 lashes each.

The SG Corporal who received 300..., twenty years later, he was offered a Waterloo medal and an apology from his Commanding Officer.  (a miscarriage of justice) 

However, Newman remains a mystery !
(his Coldstream Corporal was the fourth who was found guilty and received 60 lashes)  All 34 were heroes.  A fascinating story.