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LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive/h2>

Amended 7.5.2011. Minor edits 14.2.14, 14.4.14.

1570, Private William ARMISHAW — 13th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, c.1835 (acc. to enlistment and 1911 census), but it may have been a few years later. His implied birth year was c.1836 (1871 census) c.1837 (1861 census), c.1838 (1891 census and death registration), or even 1841 (1881 census — or was this to conceal his true age from his much younger [second?] wife?).

Enlistment

Enlisted at Manchester on the 25th of April 1854.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Labourer.

Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 3rd of August 1855.

Sent to England on the 18th of October 1855 and joined the Depot on the 16th of November.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Kilmainham on the 15th of December 1855:

"Invalided and on the 'Reduction of the Regiment'. Has pulmonary consumption in a latent form. An ordinary case of constitutional disability, aggravated by severe cold in the Crimea."

Served 2 years 231 days. In Turkey and the Crimea: 3 months.

Conduct, "good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.

Awarded a pension of 6d. per day, "until the 9th of July 1857".

Intended to live at Church Bridge, near Walsall.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.

Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.

Commemorations

Life after service

1861 Census

Red Lane, Cheslyn Hay, Staffs.

William Armishaw is shown as a Smith's Striker, single, aged 24, born Welchpool, living in his parents' household.

Other members of the household include his parents, John and Hannah, seven siblings and two grandchildren. [RM]

    [PB: How could he have coped as a Smith's Striker if he was consumptive?]

1871 Census

Landy Wood Lane, Great Wyrley, Staffs.

In 1871 he is shown as William Illsley Armishaw, a Watchman, a widower in his parents' household.

Five other siblings, three grandchildren, and one orphan are also shown.

Marriage registered

William Armishaw and Hannah Guest, December Quarter 1871, in Birmingham.

1881 Census

83, Northfield Rd, Harborne, Staffs.

Wm. Armishaw, 40, Waggoner for Coal Dealer, [born Cannock, Staffs? — Is this our man?]

Hannah Armishaw, 30, born Northfield, Worcester.

Alice Armishaw, 10, Scholar.

Ada Armishaw, 9, Scholar.

Mabel Armishaw, 7, Scholar.

Frank Armishaw, 4, Scholar.

Nelly Armishaw, 1 and a half.

All the children were born Northfield, Worcester, as was their mother.

1891 Census

32, Northfield Road, Harborne, Birmingham.

William, 53, Farm Labourer, born where?

Hannah, 40, Laundress.

Eight children shown, including 9-month-old twin girls, Milicent and Gertrude.

[PB: Add complete list.]

Death registered

The death of Gertrude, one of the twins, was registered in June Quarter 1891 in Kings Norton, shortly after the Census.

1901 Census

34 Northfield Road, Harborne, St Peter's Parish of Birmingham.

He is shown on the 1901 Census return as aged 64, born Wales. His occupation was "Watchman". [RM]

[PB: Add complete list.]

1911 Census

77, Victoria Road, Harborne, Birmingham.

William Illsley Armishaw, 76, Army Pensioner, born Welchpool.

Hannah, 61, Midwife Certified.

Three children are shown: daughters Milicent, Lucy, Dorothy, who all worked for a chocolate company.

[PB: Add complete list.]

Death & burial

Death registered

The death of William I. Armishaw, 76, was registered in the September Quarter of 1914 in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

No information about his burial.

Further information

Death registered

The death of his wife, Hannah, aged 89, was registered in the March Quarter 1940 in Birmingham.

References & acknowledgements

Registration of marriage and deaths, and Census information for 1891 & 1911, and additional information for 1871 & 1871, kindly provided by Chris Poole.


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