Richard Ramsay Armstrong's Book of His Adventures

Book excerpt: The life story of Richard Ramsay Armstrong, RN, 1833 - 1910. 3 years on the Coast of Africa for suppression of the slave trade. Then the Crimea, and 6 months with the Naval Brigade. He survived cholera but was wounded 5 times. Back at home the doctors thought he would die. Instead, he emigrated to NZ, to try farming. It didn't work out, so, he went to be a planter in Fiji. This failed, but he had to survive many hazards: a hurricane wiped him out. Then he was the official at Lord Howe Is. He became the thorn in the side of speculators who got his dismissal on trumped up charges. Back in Australia several schemes failed to make his fortune. He never mentions his family and though he fathered 6 children, he always seems to have been off on some project, giving the impression of a poor family man! This is confirmed by his wife's occasional diary which is included after his work. There are extensive footnotes and a substantial appendix examining some of Armstrong's stories in detail.