LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Captain Augustus Frederick Cavendish WEBB — 17th Lancers

Birth & early life

Born in 1831 at Westwick, near Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, the son of Frederick Webb, Esq., and his wife Mary, the daughter of A. Shell, Esq.

[PB: 1851 Census says born Brighton.]

His mother was later re-married to Colonel Edward Parkinson, C.B., late of the 11th Foot (severely wounded at Quatre Bras when serving with the 33rd Foot and later Lieut. General and Colonel-in-Chief of the 93rd Highlanders), who lived at Surbiton Hill, Surrey.

His sister, Mary, married Colonel J. R. Palmer, 17th Lancers, and his elder brother William Frederick, also served for a time in the 17th, later becoming a J.P. for the West Riding of Yorkshire.

A William F. Webb served in the 17th Lancers as a Cornet in 1848 and Lieutenant in 1849. He is not shown as being in the regiment after that date.

Service

Cornet, 17th Lancers: 22nd of December 1848.

Lieutenant, 17th Lancers: 15th of March 1850.

1851 Census

Ivy House, Hampton, Middlesex.

Mary Webb, 57, widow, born Dublin,

Augustus Webb, 19, Officer in Army, Brighton.

Others shown: a sister, 2 visitors, and 7 servants.

Captain, 17th Lancers: 28th of May 1852.

Captain Webb served the Eastern campaign of 1854, including the battle of Balaclava (wounded) and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps.)

Left sick on board ship on the 17th of September 1854.

[PB: presumably suffering from cholera, but this needs confirmation.]

Wounded in the leg at Balaclava, the shin being completely pulverised. He was seen by John Berryman of the 17th Lancers (who was returning on foot back down the valley after his horse had been shot) to be unable to ride any further from the agony of his wound. Going to him he lifted him out of the saddle, Lieutenant Percy Smith, 13th Light Dragoons holding the reins meanwhile and then riding off for a stretcher.

[PB: Accounts of his death: /allmen/allmenW/allmenW_17L/webb_a_17L/webb_a_17L_accounts_of_death.html ]

Balaclava: Sergeant Berryman, ? Sergeant Farrell and Corporal Malone attempting to rescue Captain Webb. Webb is portrayed as much older than his years — he was only 22, and losing blood from his smashed left leg. Painting by Harry Payne [date?], reproduced in [13LD History p.?] as "Sergt. Malone Gains the VC", but it would be good to know what Payne himself called it.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Although urged by Webb to save himself, Berryman stayed with him under a heavy fire. Later he was joined by 795, Sergeant John Farrell of the same regiment and both remained with him until they were joined by a third man, 1440, Corporal Joseph Malone, 13th Light Dragoons, when they managed to carry him off between them.

All three of his rescuers were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Severely wounded in action at Balaclava and died at Scutari on the 6th of November 1854, two days after the amputation of a leg.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.

Commemorations

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.

Death & burial

He was buried in the cemetery of the General Hospital at Scutari (Grave No. 31 — vide Colbourne and Brine, The Resting Places of the Brave). A slab of local stone was placed over the grave and inscribed:

"S.M. Aug. F.C. Webb. Capt. XXVII Lancers, wounded at Balaclava, Oct. 25th. Died at Scutari, Nov. 6th 1854, aged XXII."

There are also a number of memorials in Britain, including one in Salisbury Cathedral.

Father and son: Memorial tablet to Frederick and Augustus Webb in the North Transept of Salisbury Cathedral.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Sacred

To the Memory

Of

Frederick Webb Esqre.,

of Westwick, County of Durham and

Hampworth, in this County;

youngest Son

of the late Sir John Webb, Baronet:

who departed this left at Brighton

on the 4th of February, 1846

Aged 56 Years.

Also of his youngest Son

Augustus Frederick Cavendish Webb, Esqre.,

Captain 17th Lancers

who died at Scutari on the 6th of Novr. 1854,

Aged 22 Years,

from wounds received in the brilliant

light Cavalry charge at Balaklava

on the 25th of October, 1854.

__________

[Location of memorial tablet in Salisbury Cathedral, as shown in the War Memorials Archive of the Imperial War Museum (WMA-43626).]

[PB, Oct 2018: There is another image at http://cmsgazetteer.co.uk/Wilts_2(Salis).html

The Webb family also possessed property at Hamptworth, in Hampshire.

[PB, Jan 2015: Does this explain the siting of a tablet in Salisbury Cathedral?]

It would now appear that there are three identically-worded memorials erected to Augustus Webb, one in St. Mary's Church at Raskelf, the second in St. Mary's Church, South Cowton, near Northallerton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and the third in the Parish Church at Barnard Castle, County Durham, where the Webb family also owned property.

This mural tablet is located on the north wall of a chapel, presently used as a vestry, in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Raskelf in North Yorkshire. (The Webb family were Lords of the Manor of Raskelf in the 18th/19th centuries.)

Memorial plaque to Captain Webb, St Mary the Virgin Church, Raskelf, Yorkshire.

[Source: Adapted from Military Images: Augustus Frederick Cavendish Webb.]

(Click on image to enlarge)

The inscription reads:

"This tablet is erected to the memory of Augustus Frederick Cavendish Webb, Esq., Captain, 17th Lancers, who died on the 6th of November 1854, aged 22, at the hospital at Scutari from wounds received at the brilliant charge of the light cavalry division on the 25th of October 1854 at the memorable battle of Balaclava.

It is equally intended as a mark of deep sympathy and most affectionate respect for every member of the family by the tenants of his only and elder brother, William Frederick Webb, Esq."

Memorial tablet to Augustus Webb in St. Mary's Church, South Cowton, near Northallerton, North Riding of Yorkshire.

(Photo: With thanks to Gravestone Photographic Resource, Grave 81955, http://www.gravestonephotos.com (accessed 26.1.2015))

(Click on image to enlarge)

[PB, Oct 2018] To follow up...

In addition, according to Historic England there is a wall tablet to Captain Augustus Webb in the nave of St Oswald, Church Lane, Luddington and Haldenby, Lincs.

"Wall tablet in nave to Captain Augustus Webb of 1854 by Waudby of York, recording death from wounds received in Charge of Light Brigade at Balaclava. "

Historic England: Church of St Oswald, Luddington and Haldenby, Lincs.

A quick check yielded no images online. It would be good to find one. 8.10.2018: I have emailed webmaster@axholme-fhs.org.uk.

Further information

In 1976 a small gold locket containing a lock of Augustus Webb's hair said to have been retained by his mother was acquired by the Regimental Museum of the 17th/21st Lancers from a member of the family to whom it had been bequeathed. The cover is inscribed "A.F.C. Webb. Captain, 17th Lancers. Wounded at the Battle of Balaclava Oct'r 25th. Died at Scutari Nov'r 6th 1854, aged 22."