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

Last modified 6.5.2016.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Death, Burial & Memorialisation



Photo portrait of 1444, Private David ANDREWS — 11th Hussars. Click to enlarge.
(Click on image to enlarge)

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Death, Burial & Memorialisation of the Light Brigade

1444, Private David ANDREWS — 11th Hussars

Birth

Born at Taplow, Bucks, or nearby, c.1830, and christened at Cookham, Berkshire.

Death & burial

Died 1884 in Chorlton, Lancashire, aged 52 years.

Death registration

St. Catherine's House records for the January-March Quarter of 1884 show the death of a man of this name, aged 52 years, in Chorlton, Lancashire.

David Andrews died at 12, Amy Street, Gorton, Manchester, on the 22nd of February 1884 from "Pneumonia (2 months)", aged 52 years. His occupation was described as a "Packer". His son, D.W. Andrews, of 11, Gorton Street, was present at, and the informant of, his death. (There is a copy of his death certificate in the "Certificates" file.)

He was buried with military honours in Weaste Cemetery, Salford, Manchester, on the 27th of February, the cortege creating great interest as it moved through the city.



"Funeral of One of the "Six Hundred" (David Andrews), Manchester Courier, 28th February 1884 [CP]

(Click on image to enlarge)

The Cemetery records show that he was buried in Grave No. 108419 on the 27th of February 1884, aged 52 years, by the Revd. G. Hayden. No section of the cemetery is which the grave is situated is recorded, the whole "public" area in which he was interred having now been "landscaped" and "lawned" over.

It is now known that he was buried in a Church of England common grave in Section F2228 of the cemetery, alongside his wife, who had died four years earlier.

From the Naval and Military Gazette, 8th of March 1884:

"David Andrews, late of the 11th Hussars and one of the heroes of the great historical Charge at Balaclava, died at his residence in Amy Street, Gorton, Manchester on Friday week at the age of 53. He was one of the youngest men in the Light Brigade present in that remarkable charge under Lord Cardigan, and was also present at the battles of Inkerman, Alma and Sebastopol".

In early 1988, following a letter sent to the Manchester Evening News regarding the condition of the Weaste Cemetery and the fact that a V.C. winner and a Balaclava "Charger" were buried there in unmarked graves, Mr. Derek Andrews of Chorlton-cum-Hardy wrote to say that it was his great-grandfather, David Andrews of the 11th Hussars, who was buried there.

Following contact [by EJB], it transpired that he [DA] knew little about his ancestor, possessing only a copy of a newspaper report of his death and funeral and a photograph of him as a young man (in uniform but not wearing any medals, so it was presumably taken before the Crimean period). His greater family also possessed the spurs once worn by him.

On being sent copies of what was known of David Andrews, and a copy of his death certificate, copies of both the newspaper report and the photograph were sent in return. (See both in the 11th Hussars file.)

References & acknowledgements

Newspaper cutting from the Manchester Courier kindly provided by Chris Poole.


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