Born at Deptford, near Modberry [Modbury], Devon, c.1819.
Enlisted at London on the 17th of June 1840.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Servant.
Features: Dark complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Discharged at Colchester on the 19th of June 1865,as "Free, at own request, after 24 years service."
Served 25 years 3 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years
In India: 7 years 1 month.
Conduct: "very good."
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Six times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial,
Aged 46 years 1 month.
To live in London after discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.
The musters for July-September of 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" from September of this period.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 16th of April 1862.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
A roll appeared in the "Balaclava Centenary " number of the 17th/21st Lancers Regimental Journal in 1954, claiming to list all those who rode in the Charge. A "Robert Harris" was listed amongst these.
His name appeared in the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society but not on the 1879 revised list. The fact of his dying in 1878 would possibly confirm why he did not appear in the later list.
Admitted to In-pension at Chelsea Royal Hospital on the 1st of April 1868.
At the time of his entering the Royal Hospital Chelsea he was shown as being 47 years of age, had a "good" character, "no family", and had previously lived at No. 3 Green Lane, Hanwell, Middlesex.
1871 Census
Her Majesty's Royal Hospital, In-Pensioners.
Robert Harris, 55, widower, Diptford [sic], Devon.
Died at Chelsea Royal Hospital on the 1st of September 1878, and was buried in the Pensioners Plot in Brompton Cemetery. No head-stone was erected.
Census information for 1871 kindly provided by Chris Poole.