Born at Tavistock, Devonshire, c. 1833.
He is shown in the Tavistock Parish records as having been baptised there on the 27th of February 1833, the son of William Andrews, an Inn-holder, of West Street, and his wife, Ann.
A sister, Eliza, was christened on the 26th of March 1834.
Enlisted into the 1st Royal Dragoons at Westminster on the 24th of September 1853. Regimental No. 1263.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Saddler.
Appearance: Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Sandy hair.
There is a strong possibility that he rode in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava, and fought at Inkerman, with the 1st Royal Dragoons.
Transferred to the 8th Hussars (in the Crimea) on the 11th of June 1855.
Promoted to Saddler-Sergeant on the 14th of February 1856.
Next of kin. Wife, Rachel Andrews.
He is shown on the Regimental "married roll" from the 28th of October 1856. Six children were known to have been born into the family by February of 1869.
Embarked for India aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The India Office records show a daughter, Anne Sarah, died from "diarrhoea" at Meerut, India, on the 12th of November 1863, aged 14 months. She was buried on the same day by the Revd. J.W. Thompson, the Presbyterian Chaplain.
Re-engaged for 12 years' further service at Aldershot on the 13th of October 1865.
Discharged from Longford, Ireland, on the 9th of February 1875: "Free, to pension after 21 years' service."
Conduct: "very good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges when promoted but would now have had five.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 43 years 3 months on discharge.
After discharge, he intended to live at 8, Boundary Street, Scotswood Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
The medal roll for the 1st Royal Dragoons shows him as being entitled to the Balaclava and Inkerman clasps. Lummis and Wynn give his Regimental number as 1389 and only credit him with the clasps for Inkerman and Sebastopol.
There is a strong possibility that he rode in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade.
His name was added to the Alma/Inkerman clasp roll of the 8th Hussars (as a Sergeant) as being awarded the Inkerman clasp on a certificate signed by Colonel De Sails and dated the 8th of July 1856.
He is shown on the Sebastopol roll of the 8th Hussars (as a Private).
[PB: Intriguing — say more!]
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 6th of February 1872, with a gratuity of £15.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on the 29th of May 1911, with a annuity of £10. This was a month after the auction date and perhaps the reason why this was not with them at the time. [??]
He is believed to have died on the 2nd of October 1912.