1777

23 June:
Richard Sharpe is born in Howick Place, London, to an alcoholic prostitute.

1780

Lizzie Sharpe dies in the Gordon riots. Sharpe is placed in a workhouse where he picks oakum and washes laundry.

1789

Sharpe is sold to a sweep. He runs away and begins his life as a thief.

1793

Sharpe kills a man and runs to Yorkshire, where he takes the King's shilling.

1794

Sharpe is recruited by Obidiah Hakeswill into the 33rd.

June:
33rd Regiment at Cork in Ireland

June 26:
Arrived Ostend in Belgium minus the Light and Grenadier Companies which had been detached for service in the West Indies. Main force under Lord Moira had arrived five days earlier and had marched of towards Ghent. 33rd, 44th and some light dragoons and a battery of artillery were dangerously isolated.

June 30/July 1, Night:
Withdrew onto ships and sailed for Antwerp. Duke of York's army was in retreat.

September 15:
Boxtel. 33rd see their first fighting as a reserve force -They checked a French Cav pursuit by Volley fire (companies firing in unison under officers command). Commended for their steadiness by Duke of York. 33rd deployed in defensive positionsalong the North bank of the Waal river. Wellesley recalled briefly.

December:
Harsh winter, army starving because the commissariat had collapsed. Troops stealing from local inhabitants. Officers too lazy or indifferent to control them (whole army not just 33rd.) Waal was frozen and French crossed.in final week of December. Some resistance but Brit lines fractured and troops pulled back to Ems river.

Mid December:
33rd was on continual standby to repel sallies across the frozen Waal.

Dec 27th:
33rd and other Bats of Brig. Gen. Sir William Cathcarts brigade saw fighting around Tiel and Wadanburg.

1795

January 4th:
Five Companies of 33rd were among the pickets taken unaware by French sortie against an outpost at Meteren. They fell back two miles to Geldermaisen and joined the rest of their Regiment plus Black watch,78th Highlanders and two Howitzers. French retired.

Febuary, first week:
33rd attached to Maj. Gen. Fox’s divisionand billeted at Coevordon. General described it as ‘forlorn and unprovided situation’ and dangerously exposed. Soil frozen so deep that no trenches could be dug or ramparts built. French were close and this rearguard was withdrawn.

Febuary 17th approx.:
33rd in Aschendorf on banks of Emms. Village flooding, but men had bread and forage.

March:
33rd were home- no details.
(Figures: 1st August 1794 mustered 985 men of whom 113 were sick. October 849 men. January 799 men. Losses In action were slight: 1 killed and 11 wounded at Geldermaisen. Bulk of casualties were the result of sickness and unhealed wounds.)

Autumn:
33rd ordered to join reinforcements in West Indies. being mustered at Southhampton. Sailed out of Porstmouth (mid?) November but hit bad storms and were blown back after seven weeks at sea. 33rd wintered in Poole.

1796

April:
33rd sent ahead of Wellesley to India. Wellesley followed in June.

1797

Feb:
Wellesley arrived in Calcutta (FortWilliam). 33rd arrived earlier (maybe December?)

April:
33rd supposed to go to Manilla (from Bengal?) but did not.

August:
33rd sent to Malay but sent back due to French. Wellesley went to Madras (Fort St George) and 33rd back to Calcutta (Fort William).

1798

August:
Wellesley ordered to bring 33rd down to Madras to prepare to invade Mysore.

1799

Feb 3rd:
Order given to invade Mysore, by Lord Mornington (Wellesley’s Brother).
(Note. Major Shee of 33rd neglected his duties and some men had no arms or eqipment.)

March 26th:
33rd came out of thick jungle at Mallavelly to see a ridge ahead crowned with elephants. 2,000 of the Tipoos troups trained by French (First battle in TIGER).

April 5th:
Troops enclose Seringapatam. Skirmish at Sultanpeltah Tope. Lt. Fitzgerald is killed in the fighting by Hakeswill. 12 soldiers (8 from the 33rd) are taken prisoner and excuted by Jetties, bar Hakeswill. Hakeswill betrays Sharpe and Lawford. Sharpe and Lawford imprisoned.

April 6th:
Seigework begins.

May 2nd:
Rocket Magazine blows up and creates breach (two days later in TIGER).

May 4th:
The order for the assault is given. In the fighting Sharpe kills the tiger guard, escapes the dungeon, finds the Tippoo, kills him and steals his jewels, and throws Hakeswill to the tigers.

May 5th:
Funeral of Tippoo. Sharpe is made Sergeant.

July:
Harris’ troops leave. In Decccan the 33rd in skirmishes with Dhoondiah Waugh, a bandit who had also escaped the Tippoo’s prison, and the rebelious Rajah of Bellum, amongst others.