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| − | [[File:portrait02.jpg|right|frame|Col. William Deasy]]
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| − | '''Background Details'''
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| − | 6'2" 180 lb blue eyes salt and pepper hair age is 62. Good physical shape.
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| − | For a man in his 60's Col. William Deasy is in exceptional health. This is most likely due to his daily morning walks, long military career and a bit of the drink to drive off the common flu. Col. Deasy's career started back in 1834 when he joined Her Majesty’s army within the ranks of the Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade. This very unorthodox group is recognized by their green uniform rather than the Empire's Standard red. Rather than attacking as a whole unit, these "grasshoppers", as they were known, worked in pairs ahead of the main infantry. Their job was to harass the enemy with aimed shots. These tactics, which had originated in campaigns in North America, were unorthodox for the time. It was considered impractical to for individual soldiers to aim at specific targets and conventional tactics favoured the mass volley from a close formation and the bayonet. William was well liked by the men under his command and made his way up the ranks. He eventually made the rank of Colonel in 1849.
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| − | While on leave in Liverpool William was introduced to a young woman named Gweneth Livingston. William fell in love with Gwen and they courted for two years. The two married in May of 1838 while Deasy was on leave. William and Gwen had a delightful relationship. Although William was away for many months, he found the time to write to his loving wife every week. When home, William was the ever-attentive husband, who rarely spoke of his work. The two never had any children although they did have on miscarriage. As husband and wife there could not be a more perfect couple.
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| − | A turning point in the Colonel's career happened during the Crimean War at the battle of Inkerman Nov 5th, 1854. He led a small group of men from the 2nd Division to hold Home Hill against the Russian Empire. With the fog rolling in over the battlefield the fighting mainly took to close volleys of fire and bayonet and hand to hand combat. The British were severely out numbered, 4 to 1, but held the hill till the fourth division and the French troops arrived. Col. Deasy was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valor on the field. Personally the day haunts his dreams, with visions of men rather beast killing each other.
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| − | Col. Deasy’s command lasted up until the Indian Rebellion of 1857 at the Siege of Cawnpore. The city was taken over by natives on June 25th. Her Majesty’s army made negotiations for safe passage in the days following however shots rang out and a blood bath ensued. It was under Col. Deasy’s command that these negotiations broke down and shots rang out. The city was covered in blood and countless civilians including women and children died. However this siege was still not at an end. The survivors took refuge within the city walls for the next two weeks. Slowly these people died of dysentery and cholera. It was evident that the leader of this particular rebellion Nana Sahib, would not give up his hostages or his position. Meanwhile a Company relief force that had advanced from Allahabad defeated the Indians and by July 15 it was clear that the Nana Sahib would not be able to hold Cawnpore and a decision was made by the Nana Sahib and other leading rebels that the hostages must be killed. After the sepoys refused to carry out this order, two Muslim butchers, two Hindu peasants and one of Nana's bodyguards went into the Bibighar. Armed with knives and hatchets they murdered the women and children. After the massacre the walls were covered in bloody hand prints, and the floor littered with fragments of human limbs. The dead and the dying were thrown down a nearby 50’ deep well, when the well was full; the remaining bodies were thrown into the Ganges. Nana and most of his companion escaped from the city not to be heard from again.
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| − | The Colonel held himself personally responsible for the massacre and the images that he saw threw him into a state of shock. He could not function and was quickly relieved of duty. The Colonel wrote two disturbing letters back to his wife, Gwen. Though Deasy cannot clearly remember what he wrote he knew that they contained the maddening images and signs that he saw within the confines of the city. The acts that where done within the city where inhuman in nature. Records of the accounts are not clear for those interviewed could not give a clear or understandable account of what they saw. Most of the pictures of the city have not survived or have been classified. Furthermore, the news of the massacre traveled back to dear old England where Gwen was living. It is not clear what happened but within the coming weeks Gwen took her own life. William did not learn of this news until he was discharged from the hospital a month later. He was thrown into a deep depression and became addicted to opiates. He was also given and honorable discharge for his military service.
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| − | Months passed and it was an invitation from and old friend that Colonel Deasy finally recovered, as best he could, and traveled to Africa. He used his skills as a rifleman and went on safari expeditions. Several successful years passed and Deasy’s reputation grew along with the man’s thriving business. It was here that he met up with a young chap by the name of Robert Ashton Clark who had been stranded at sea. The two spent several months within the jungle looking for an ancient city. Upon its finding, an incident happened which reportedly reduced the party of ten to a party of two with only Col. Deasy and Mr. Clark as the remaining survivors. Haunting images and signs of the past massacre flooded is mind and it was only his prior training that kept him alive for those four days. After this episode, the Col. and Mr. Clark returned to London where Colonel Deasy currently remains.
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