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

Amended 11.5.11

1266, Private Edward BURKE — 13th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born in the parish of St. Paul's, Dublin.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Dublin on the 3rd of July 1846.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 9".

Trade: Tailor.

Dark complexion. Brown eyes. Dark hair.

Service

"In cells," for "absence," 7-12 of August 1847.

Invalided to England on the 12th of March 1856.

Discharge & pension

>Discharged from Norwich on the 8th of August 1865:

"Having been found unfit for further service. Has Cystitis. Was thrown from a horse — he having been a batman at the time. Suffers a great deal from a frequent desire to make water. Also has great pain in the urethra and is subject to great aggravation. He is not capable of earning a living as during these severe attacks he is obliged to give in and his health became impaired from his rest being disturbed. Constitution impaired by his severe disability. Aggravated by his intemperance."

Served 19 years 31 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.

Conduct, very good." In possession of four G.C. badges.

Twenty-one times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.

Aged 38 years 1 month on discharge.

To live in Norwich.

Next of kin (in 1854): Wife, Ann Bruce, living at 2, Lower Windsor Street, Birmingham.

Medals & commemorations

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with three clasps and the T.M.

Life after service

The 1881 Census shows him as a "Patient in Infirmary" at the Oldham Union Workhouse, Oldham. He is listed as a Tailor, aged 54, a widower, born in Ireland.

Claimed a Crimean "Campaign Pension" on the 5th of September 1895.

Death & burial


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