LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

Added 28.10.11. Minor edits 8.4.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1389, Private Thomas HARRISON — 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born in Liverpool, c.1829.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Liverpool on the 14th of May 1848.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Labourer.

Service

In hospital at Scutari during May and June 1855.

On detached duty at the Riding School, Sandhurst for some considerable time in late 1858 and 1859 before rejoining the regiment.

Died at Birmingham (while still serving) on the 15th of November 1859.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.

Awarded the French Military War Medal.

11th Hussar NCOs and soldiers recommended for the French Military War Medal, including Thomas Harrison (Image: Max Espie.)

(Click on image to enlarge)

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Peel's recommendation, sent from Sebastopol in May 1856, stated:

"Served in the Campaign in the whole of the Campaign in Bulgaria in 1854. Was present at the affair of the Bouljanak, and Battles of Alma and Balaklava, where he behaved gallantly in galloping to the rescue of several comrades who were fighting against overwhelming odds. Was also present at the Battle of Inkerman, and through the whole of the Campaign from 1854 to 1856."

The Service Historique of France states that the Medaille Militaire was awarded under a decree dated the 21st of August 1856.

Letter from:

"Horse Guards,

27th September 1856,

Sir, I have the honour to transmit the accompanying Diplomas to the N.C.O.s and Soldiers of the Regiment under your command upon whom the French Military War Medal has been conferred and HRH the Commander-in-Chief has directed that you will present them on parade in a manner in keeping with the decoration, to the individuals to whom they are addressed.

I have the honour, etc., etc.

J. W. Reynolds,

DAG.

[To:] Officer Commanding 11th Hussars."

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Death & burial

Death registered

Thomas Harrison, December Quarter 1859, Aston.

His death certificate shows that he died from "Phthisis Pulmonalis, Tuberberculate, 197 days" at the Barracks, Aston, Birmingham, on the 14th of November 1859. He was decribed as a Private in the 11th Hussars, aged 31 years. A David Scott, also of the Barracks, was present at the death. (There is a copy of the death certificate in the 11th Hussars "Certificates" file.)

Thomas Harrison's death is shown in the Family History Registers for the Aston District during the October-December Quarter of 1859. No age at death is shown, this being before it was recorded.

His death certificate shows that he died from "Phthisis Pulmonalis, Tuberberculate, 197 days" at the Barracks, Aston, Birmingham, on the 14th of November 1859. He was decribed as a Private in the 11th Hussars, aged 31 years. A David Scott, also of the Barracks, was present at the death. (There is a copy of the death certificate in the 11th Hussars "Certificates" file.)

He had 4/1d in his "credits", but left no will, neither are there any next of kin shown or record of the disposition of his medals.

Further information

TH's medals at a Baldwin's of St James's auction [9 May 2017?]

(Click on image to enlarge)

Lot 23

Campaign Groups and Pairs

Estimate: £6,000 — £7,000

Description

Campaign Groups and Pairs, A fine 'Light Brigade' Charger group of 3 awarded to Thomas Harrison, 11th Hussars, who was awarded the French Médaille Militaire, "Where he behaved very gallantly in galloping to the rescue of several colleagues who were fighting against overwhelming odds", comprising; Crimea Medal 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, (Thomas Harrison 11th Hussars) contemporary engraved naming in an accepted regimental style; French Médaille Militaire, silver, gilt and enamel; Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, Sardinian issue, this last fitted with decorated swing suspension, the second enamel work now largely lacking, contact wear and edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine, mounted for wear (3)

*ex Glendining's, 23rd June 1932, the property of a descendant

ex Wallis & Wallis, 9th December 1962

ex The Collection of The Reverend Ralph A. Fitzpatrick

ex DNW, Lot 339, 28th July 1993

Private Thomas Harrison (No 1389, 11 th Hussars) enlisted in the Regiment in April 1848. He rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade on the 25 th October 1854, and was later in hospital during April and May of 1885. He was Hospital Orderly in June 1885, and later became Lance-Corporal in the Regiment. He left the Crime in H.T Toning in June 1856. Thomas Harrison died, 14 th November 1859.

The Citation for the French Medaille Militaire states: "Present at the Battles of the Alma and Balaklava where he behaved very gallantly in galloping to the rescue of several comrades, who were fighting against overwhelming odds".

The 11th Hussars sustained 32 men killed and 26 wounded in the Charge.

Noted on Page 161 of "Honour The Light Brigade" by William M. Lummis and Kenneth G. Wynn.

Sold with photocopy page of Lummis and Wynn and an original "Catalogue of British Military Medals in the Collection of Rev. Ralph A. Fitzpatrick" — Los Angeles, Richard Keefe, Printer and Stationer — 1972, signed to frontispiece and dated by the author — May 13 1973.

[Source: Baldwin's of St James's: Thomas Harrison, 11th Hussars (accessed 11.5.2018).]