Dear Bernard

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I completed my Masters in History at the University of Tasmania in 2010. My subject was Peter Degraves and Hugh Macintosh, founders of Australia’s oldest brewery. Macintosh was a Captain in the Madras Native Infantry. Imagine my surprise when I began reading your Sharpe series last year and discovered that Sharpe’s progress through India almost exactly mirrored that of Hugh Macintosh and you had been using most of the same sources that I used. Macintosh was with Wellesley  from Seringapatam to GawiIghur and all those little battles in between, including leading his men in a charge at the Marathas cannon at Assaye. I must compliment you on the historic accuracy of your work, which I could not fault.
Before coming to Hobart in 1824 Macintosh became a General in the Persian army and a close friend of the Persian crown prince. His military career ended with a severe injury, probably in Afganistan. In Hobart he was the patron of Henry Savory, the author of Australia’s first novel. He also played the violin and painted. He died aged 58 in 1934 as a result of his war injuries.
Congratulations on your work in bringing history to life for those who would otherwise not read it.
Greg