Born at Rodmell, Sussex.
Enlisted at Brighton on the 28th of February 1846.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Groom.
Servant to Surgeon Gibson in the Crimea.
He was the batman to Surgeon (later Sir) James Brown Gibson until the 30th of September 1854. He is shown in the musters as "Detached, Guards", as servant to Surgeon Gibson from the 23rd of May 1854, but did not receive any pay . . . " Surgeon Gibson had served with the 17th Lancers from February 1844 and becoming Surgeon to H.H.R. the Duke of Cambridge in February 1855, Director of the A.H.C. in March of 1860, retiring in May 1862. He became a K.C.B. in 1865 and died in Rome in February 1868.
Sent money from the Crimea to his wife, Bridget.
Discharged, "by purchase", from Cahir on the 8th of June 1856, upon a payment of £30.
Served 10 years 135 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
He re-enlisted into the 5th Lancers at Newbridge, Co. Kildare. on the 31st of March 1858, with the Regimental number of 89. His documents show the following details:
Age: 29.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Groom.
Dark complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of April 1858.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of August 1858.
Previous service of 10 years 135 days in the 17th Lancers allowed to reckon towards pension by War Office Authority, dated the 25th of October 1859.
Transferred back to the 17th Lancers on the 1st of April 1864. Regimental No. 729.
Re-engaged to complete 21 years service on the 6th of November 1867.
Discharged, "free to pension, at his own request," from Hounslow on the 6th of December 1868. "Wounded in the left leg at Balaclava."
Served 21 years 24 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years.
Conduct: "very good." In possession of three Good Conduct badges when promoted.
Aged 39 years 8 months on discharge.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
His pension of 1/8d. per day was increased to 1/11d and made "permanent" from the 2nd of March 1869.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 30th of June 1868.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
He is shown on the list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877, but not in the 1879 revised list. He may possibly have died during the intervening period.
To reside, c/o. Mr. John Aukett, 3 Cheapside, London Road, Brighton
1861 Census
East Cavalry Barracks, Aldershot.
G Herriott, Sergeant, 32, Dragoon, born Rodwell, Sussex.
B Herriott, 31, Laundress, born Dublin, Ireland.
1871 Census
Coleshill Street West, Atherstone.
George Herriott, 43, Army Pensioner, Rodwill [sic], Sussex.
Bridget, 46, Ireland.
Died in the Coventry Pension District at the General Hospital at Birmingham on the 14th of April 1877 aged 49. Confirmed by GRO records.
He had lived at Atherstone, Warwickshire, and also at Lea Marston, near Coleshill, Warwickshire, as a Sergeant Major in the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry. In his will he left his personal estate (of under £50) to his widow, Bridget.
He was buried in the Sheepy Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire, Cemetery, Grave No. 01756. This a common grave and has no headstone, the whole area being now grassed over.
Extracts from the Coleshill Chronicle for the 21st of April 1877:
"Death — April 14th. Sergeant Major George Herriot, of Lea Marston, Drill Instructor of the 5th Troop of the Warwickshire Yeomanry and one of the 'Six Hundred' in the memorable Balaclava Charge..:Death of a Balaclava Hero — It is our mournful duty to record the death of one of those heroes of whom England is so proud, and the fame of whose deeds will last as long as the world itself. He was one of the Six Hundred whom Tennyson immortalised in the stirring poem, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade.'
We allude to Sergeant Major George Herriot, who resided the last few years of his life at Lea Marston. He had been unwell for several months, and on Monday, April 2nd, he was admitted as an In-Patient in the Birmingham General Hospital, where he died on Saturday last. Afterwards, his death was received with universal regret, — for who in Lea Marston did not know and respect Sergeant Major Herriot.
His body was brought back to Lea Marston the same date. It was arranged that the funeral should take place on Wednesday at Atherstone, where the Sergeant-Major had formerly lived for several years. The hearse containing the body was met at the entrance to the town by twelve members of the 5th Troop of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry of which the deceased soldier was drill-instructor at the time of his death; also by members of the Royal Nelson Lodge of Oddfellows, of which the deceased was also a member. A procession having been formed in the following order:
The Yeomanry.
Mr. Walter Keeling. Mr. J. Keeling.
Mr. R. Brigham. The Body. Mr. J. Redfern.
Mourners.
Odd fellows.
The funeral cortege slowly wended its way, amidst a vast concourse of people, to the church, where the preliminary portion of the service was read. The procession then went on to the grave in the cemetery, the rest of the service there being read very impressively by the Vicar. Then Brother Wilson of the Royal Nelson Lodge read very feelingly the address usually read over the graves of deceased members of the fraternity. This concluded, the Yeomanry, under the command of Quarter-master W. Silk, assisted by Sergeant Major Gaze, paid their final tribute to their late comrade-in-arms in the usual way by firing three volleys over the old soldier's grave.
And there we left him,
What was left of him,
One of the Six Hundred.
The firing party consisted of Quarter-master W. Silk, Sergeant W. Hollis, Cpls. Palmer and Middleton and Privates Drakeford, Freeman, Cardwell, Smith, Dash, Keeling, Lane and Silk.
Sergeant-Major Herriot was respected by all who knew him, he was a true soldier, ever-ready to the call of duty, a faithful husband, a sincere friend, and has left a name untarnished that will live long in the memory of those who had the privilege of calling him friend.
May his soul rest in peace.
Sergeant Major Herriot died at the early age of 49, and leaves a widow to mourn his loss. He entered the Army in 1845, when he enlisted into the 17th Lancers. He had three medals, the Crimean, Delhi [sic] and the Good Conduct medal . . . "
Then follows a printing of the "Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in full.
Census information for 1861 kindly provided by Gill Lindley.
Census information for 1871 kindly provided by Chris Poole.