Captain Charles Cameron

Charles Cameron was a Light Company officer of the 3rd Buffs. He was born on 26th July 1779 in Kilmallie, Argyll. He entered the army first as a volunteer and then as an ensign in the 92nd Regiment on 18th Feb 1799. He served in Holland and was wounded at Egmont-op-Zee in 1799. In April 1800 he exchanged to the 3rd Buffs and was promoted to Captain in 1804. He served with distinction in the Peninsular War. At the battle of Oporto he commanded the first wine barge across the Douro on 12th May 1809 containing 25 men of the Buffs Light Company. They were the vanguard of the regiment and of the whole of Wellington's army. He fought in many more battles and was badly wounded in the neck and chest at Albuhera in 1811. At the battle of Nive he showed great leadership when the brigaded light companies captured a lieutenant-colonel and 2 guns. In 1812 he met and fell in love with Ludovina da Silva who was in a convent in Portugal. He had to steal her away and subsequently married her, his third wife. He was wounded again at the battle of Orthes in 1814. He reached the rank of Lt-Colonel and survived the war. When the Buffs were sent to Australia to guards convicts Lt-Col Cameron went with his wife Ludovina, and they decided to settle there with their 7 children. But when the Buffs were posted to India he left his family in Australia and accompanied his regiment. However, on 15th May 1827 he, along with 30 others, died of cholera.