Private Matthew Gillard was born at Sandford Courtney, near Oakhampton and enlisted in the 62nd Foot at Wells in July 1811, aged 16 years. In his subsequent career of some 25 years with the Colours, he served 'In Spain and France for one year and eleven months [including the Battle of Nive], in North America for six years two months', and at home for the remainder of his career. Gillard was discharge in June 1836, his assorted ailments including blindness in one eye from a cataract that he attributed 'to a blow', and died in Ireland in October 1859.