LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive
Added 3.5.11. Minor edits 2.3.2014. New info added 14.6.16.
1717, Private Richard WILDING — 13th Light Dragoons
Birth & early life
Born in St Chad's parish, Shrewsbury c.1832.
1841 Census
Barker Street, Shrewsbury.
Richard Wilding, 45, Waterman.
Mary Wilding, 42.
Henry Wilding, 14, Plumber Ap. [Apprentice]
Richard Wilding, 9, born St Chad, Shrewsbury.
Jonathan Wilding, 6.
Enlistment
Enlisted at Shrewsbury on the 8th of December 1854.
Age: 22.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Labourer. (He was shown as a "Groom" at the time of his death.)
Service
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 1st of August 1855.
Sent to the General Depot at Scutari on the 25th of August 1855.
He was shown on a nominal roll of men of the Regiment made out at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, on the 9th of November 1855 as being On Duty there from the 27th of August.
To the Depot at York when the Regiment to Canada, 11th of September 1866.
Discharge & pension
Discharged, "time expired", from Canterbury on the 1st of December 1866.
Conduct: "Indifferent". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
To live in Shrewsbury after discharge.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Commemorations
On the 5th of November 1895, he, together with just over 100 veterans of the campaigns up to and including the Ashanti War of 1874-8, were invited to an Assembly and Banquet at Shrewsbury, and from the Market Square marched to the Music Hall.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
Life after service
1871 Census
Pride Hill, St Mary, Shrewsbury.
Mary Wilding, Head, Widow, 72, Shop Keeper, born Pride Hill.
Richard Wilding, son, unmarried, 40, Groom, born Pride Hill, Shrewsbury.
Clara Grice, granddaughter, 5, Scholar, born Castle Fields, Shrewsbury.
Death registered
Mary Wilding [mother], aged 83 years, June Quarter 1879, Atcham.
1881 Census
Atcham Union Workhouse, Berrington.
Richard Wilding, 41 [sic], Inmate, single, Groom Domestic Servant, born Shrewsbury.
1891 Census
Atcham Union Workhouse, Cross Houses, Berrington, Near Shrewsbury.
Richard Wilding, Inmate, single, 61, groom, born Shrewsbury.
1901 Census
Atcham Union Workhouse, General Workhouse & Infirmary, Cross Houses, Berrington, Shropshire.
Richard Wilding, single, 70, Pensioner (13th Hussars), born St Chads Shrewsbury.
Death & burial
Richard Wilding died on the 27th of January 1902 in the Workhouse at Atcham, near Shrewsbury, Salop. According to the records, he was 72 years old.
Death registered
Richard Wilding, aged 70 years, March Quarter 1902, Atcham.
His obituary notice in the Shrewsbury Chronicle, 30th of January 1902, states that he died at "Cross Keys House, near Oswestry, late of St. Chad's parish, aged 70 years."
Richard Wilding's death was noticed elsewhere, including in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 3 February 1902.
(Click on image to enlarge)
He was buried in Plot No. 112. 4. H in the General Cemetery at Shrewsbury.
It is said that he was given a private funeral "from monies he saved from his pension." However, it would appear that although he had saved money from his pension for a "decent" burial the Workhouse Master had appropriated the money and he was buried in a common grave.
(There is a photograph of his gravesite in the 13th Hussar file, the mound in the centre of the picture marking his grave.)
Richard Wilding: Gravesite in the Shrewsbury General Cemetery (photograph: EJB (1980s?))
(Click on image to enlarge)
[PB: Find/transcribe his obituary notice in the Shrewsbury Chronicle, 30th of January 1902.]
References & acknowledgements
Sheffield death notice, additional death registrations, and Census information for 1841, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
