I am going slowly through some of the newspapers on line at: http://www.nla.gov.au/ferg/browselist.html and would like to share with you anything of a military nature. I hope you enjoy them ... Lina CUMBERLAND TIMES - 25.4.1846 British Extracts -- EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF SOMNAMBULISM A most extraordinary case occurred at Chatham-Barracks, which has caused considerable sensation. After the eight o'clock tat-too the soldiers retired to rest, and shortly after nine o'clock, a soldier from one of the rooms of letter H, was observed to go out into the passage, and, as he did not return, information was given, upon which a Sergeant-major of the 60th Rifles, together with Sergeant Beard and Corporal McKay, of the 2nd Queen's commenced an immediate search, and on their enquiry of the sentinels at different posts, they ascertained that a man in his shirt was seen to enter one of the places of convenience for the troops at the rear of the barracks. A lantern was procured and let down, but they could see no one, though they heard a low noise in the drain. Nothing was heard of the missing soldier until half past eleven o'clock the same night, when he was brought into the barracks by an escort of the Royal Marines, without a bit of clothing on, and in a fit, the poor fellow having been picked up in the marine barracks where he was found by the escort. On enquiry it turned out that the soldier must have got down the privy, and had proceeded along the drain that leads into the river Medway, as he was discovered by a private named Benjamin Brown, in a privy at the rear of the marine barracks. Hearing someone was below, he repaired to the guard-house and communicated the circumstance to the sergeant of the guard. An escort was immediately formed and lights procured, and on their arrival at the rear they found the poor fellow lying on the ground struggling and in a fit, a short distance from the privy. He must have got out of the hole himself, and walked a short distance, when he struck himself against one of the posts used for the purpose of drying clothes. The distance the man must have gone is between 5000 to 6000 feet underground. The man's name is Peter Slight, belonging to the 2nd Queen's., and he has been in the depot about two months. He is twenty-three years of age, and a native of Prestonpans, in the county of Mid Lothian. The young man was, immediately on his arrival at the barracks, taken to the detachment hospital, and was attended without loss of time by the medical officers attached. This is the fourth time that this poor fellow has risen from his bed and walked in his sleep. On one occasion he received a severe injury in one foot by slipping down on being challenged by one of the sentries on duty. An enquiry into the above circumstances was made on Monday by the official authorities, and several persons examined; and their depositions taken down in writing,! it is supposed for the purpose of laying them before the commander-in-chief for the man's discharge. ...Lina