Born in Birkenhead.
Enlisted into the 41st Foot at Dublin on the 15th of June 1846. Regimental No. 2028.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Blacksmith.
Transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons on the 12th of April 1851.
Sick at Scutari from the 1-23 of May 1855.
To Farrier (as Sergeant) on the 9th of February 1856.
To Farrier-Major 1st of January 1860.
Ranking as Troop Sergeant Major from the 1st of April 1860.
Next of kin (in 1868): wife Eliza Williams (nee Whitehead). Married 20th of February 1854.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 1st of July 1869.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
Died at Warrington, Lancashire, on the 9th of October 1872, while on furlough.
[Eds: From Mr G. Fisher comes this information from his death certificate:Isaac Sankey died of Phthisis (TB) from which he had been suffering for seven months. He died at Heath Lane, Southworth, with Croft, in the sub district of Winwick, Warrington. The informant was Hannah Clough of School Brow in the same district. She made her mark on the certificate. His occupation is noted as "Major Farrier 13th Hussars" and his age is recorded as 44 years. The death was registered on 12th October 1872 and Richard Turner was the Registrar.
His death is also confirmed on the GRO register for the Dec quarter, 1872 at Warrington.]
He sent money from the Crimea to his brother, John Sankey, living at No. 30 Old Chester Row, Birkenhead. He himself was shown as "alias Sankey" at this time.
Letter sent from:
"Horse Guards,
18th April 1854.
Sir, - I have the honour to refer to you the enclosed petition from Mr. John Sankey which has been transmitted to his Lordship by Mr. William Jackson, the MP for Newcastle, and that a name by which a soldier is enlisted is the only name by which he can be officially mustered, you will be pleased to make a note on Private John Williams's attestation papers that his real name is "Isaac Sankey."
I have the honour, etc. etc.
G. A. Weatherall,
Officer Commanding, 13th Light Dragoons, DAG.
Hounslow."
[Eds: Williams also appears in a posed studio group photograph with other Farriers of the regiment, seated centre, in stable dress. (See photo in collection, courtesy of Mr G. Fisher) and in another group photo taken approximately 1861 (see photo in collection, courtesy of Mr M. Hargreave-Mawson).]