Born at Devizes, Wiltshire, c.1816.
[PB: Wendy Leahy has born "Cherton, Devizes".]
[PB, Feb.2017: A "Charles Hampshire", son of William and Elizabeth Hampshire, was baptised 17 August 1815 at Chirton, Wiltshire. (Ancestry.co.uk: England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FHL Film Number: 950259. Transcript only.) Chirton is about 5 miles southeast of Devizes, so this could be him. I have not been able to find out anything further about William and Elizabeth.
Interestingly, there is also a Charles Hampshire, born Chirton c.1857?, in the 1911 Census. For this to be CH's posthumously born son, the actual date of birth would have to be November 1855 at the latest. A birth in Chirton would make sense if a pregnant Margaret herself had been born locally and had returned from the Crimea to live with her own family, or with her in-laws.
However, the above speculations are now irrelevant because the birth of this Charles Hampshire was registered in Devizes in the July Quarter of 1857, too late for this to be CH's son. His parents were William Hampshire, an Agricultural Labourer born c.1832, and Amelia.
It seems a slightly more plausible that this Charles Hampshire was CH's nephew, the son of a brother or other near relative. There were a number of families with the surname Hampshire living in the village (another is the family of Robert Hampshire, born c.1825, and this Charles Hampshire appears to be the first male child born after CH's death in 1855. A closer study might clear things up.]
Enlisted at Maidstone on the 31st of December 1834.
[PB: Wendy Leahy has enlisted Salisbury 31.12.1834, and attested 22.1.1835.]
Trade: Labourer.
No other enlistment details are shown.
[PB: Wendy Leahy has:
1835: Private
1839: Corporal
13.12.1839: Private, Depot
1842: Private, Depot
1855: Private.]
Joined the regiment from Maidstone Depot on its return from India, on the 31st of March 1842.
He was servant to Lieut. C.J. Keith during the early part of the Crimean campaign (and was awarded the same clasps as he) when that officer was A.D.C. to General Sir Richard England, September — December 1854.
Died, "with the Regiment", on the 3rd of February 1855.
Next of kin: Wife, Margaret Hampshire, with the Regiment in the Crimea.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Died, "with the Regiment", on the 3rd of February 1855.
Next of kin: Wife, Margaret Hampshire, with the Regiment in the Crimea.
A memorial of either wood or stone was erected to him in the 4th Light Dragoons Cemetery on the road between Kadikoi and Karani, and in 1856 bore the inscription:
"In memory of Chs. Hampshire. IV L.D., who died on the 3rd of Feb. 1855, aged 39 years."