The Veteran or 40 Years' Service in the British Army

Paymaster John Harley wrote his memoirs in the mid to late 1830's, some fifteen years after he had left the army under questionable circumstances. He apparently published this memoir privately in two volumes in 1838 a few years before his death - quite possibly as he had not found a mainstream publisher because of its potentially libellous content – and only four hundred copies were apparently printed.

John Harley had a varied and interesting military career, serving in the Tarbert Fencibles, the 54th Foot in Egypt, and then the 47th Foot with Wellington in Spain and Southern France.

John Harley was born in Cork, Ireland on 18 November 1769 but his father died within a few weeks, he therefore lived with his mother for most of his youth in the area of Kilkenny.