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

735, Sergeant John BERRYMAN — 17th Lancers

Birth & early life

Born at Dudley, Worcestershire, on the 18th of July 1825, and baptised at St. Thomas's Church, Dudley, on the 28th of August 1825. The officiating priest was the Revd. William Lewis. (See copy of the entry from the parish records in the 17th Lancer files.)

Edward and Elizabeth Berryman [parents]

John Berryman was the son of Edward Berryman, a "Victualler", and his wife Elizabeth.

No marriages under the surname of Berryman took place in Worcestershire between 1754 and 1837, so the fact that his mother was born in Truro, Cornwall, could mean that his father was born in Cornwall too, and they were married there before going to Worcestershire. However, no record of this has yet been found.

The first entry of his father as a publican came from Piggot's Directory of 1832 when he was landlord of "The Blue Bell", High Street, Dudley, and again from the same Directory for 1837. But Bentley's Directory for 1840 shows him as being at "The Globe", Flood Street, Dudley. Piggott's Directory for 1842 shows no entry for him, so he may have died.

Between 1819 and 1834, a number of children were born into the Berryman family besides John — to a total of ten. Mary Ann, the eldest, was baptised on the 16th of August 1819 by the Revd L. Booker. Of these children, three were to die very young during the cholera epidemic of 1832, and another in 1834, aged 4 months.

(See copy in the 17th Lancer files, when he [?] is shown as a "Servant".)

The 1841 Census for Dudley show no return for the Berryman family in the St. Thomas's Ward of Dudley, which could mean that, on giving up the public house, the family had moved to another district. However, Elizabeth Berryman was back in Flood Street, St Thomas's Ward in 1851.

1851 Census

Flood Street, St Thomas's, Dudley.

The 1851 Census shows his mother, Elizabeth Berryman, as head of the household. She was then aged 57 years and the Matron of a female charity. Her place of birth is shown as Truro, Cornwall.

John Henry Kinsey, aged 26, is shown as her son-in-law, with her daughter, Mary Ann, aged 30, and three grand-children, George Roy, 3, Hannah, 2, and Elizabeth, 8 months.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Birmingham on the 26th of October 1843.

Age: 18.

Height: 5' 6".

Trade: Cabinet-maker.

Service

From Private to Corporal, 26th of May 1848.

Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 1st of January 1849.

From Private to Corporal, 20th of October 1851.

Corporal to Sergeant, 2nd of August 1854.

Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 18th of April 1854.

Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain on the 8th of October 1857.

The July-September 1858 muster rolls of the regiment show no particular field service entry for him during this period, so from this he most probably remained at the Kirkee Depot.

Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on the 26th of October 1860.

Marriage

Married Eliza ("Betsy") Enright, on the 14th of January 1861, at Masulaptan, India, by the Church of England Missionary.

The India Office records show him as being a bachelor, aged 35 years, and his wife as being a spinster, aged 26 years, on their marriage. His father was named as Edward Berryman and hers as William Enright. The witnesses were L.W. Maiden and J. Maiden, and the ceremony was conducted by the Revd Charles Tanner.

Their only child, a daughter, Florence, was born on the 21st of March 1863 and baptised at Secunderbad.

His wife, Eliza, died "of cholera" at Bombay on the 15th of January 1865, aged 30 years. She was buried on the 16th of January in Back Bay Cemetery from St. Thomas's Cathedral by the Revd. W.E. Fletcher, Senior Chaplain. She is named as "Barryman" in the records.

Eliza Berryman was shown as "Dead" at the time W0/76-10 was made out in 1870.

Gazetted as Quartermaster in the 17th Lancers on the 12th of April 1864.

Served during the Zulu War and was present at Ulundi on the 4th of July 1879, being awarded the medal with clasp for 1879.

He, with 926 John Brown, were the only two "Other Ranks" of the regiment to have gone through the Crimean, Mutiny and Zulu campaigns.

Transferred to the 5th Lancers at Aldershot on the 12th of May 1880.

Honorary Captain, 1st of July 1881.

Discharge & pension

Made Honorary Major, out of the Regiment, and on to half-pay on the 28th of July 1885.

Medals

Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Charge at Balaclava, 25th October 1854.

Recommendation for the award of the Victoria Cross, London Gazette, 24th of February 1857.

(Click on image to enlarge)

The recommendation states:

"17th Lancers: Troop Sergeant-Major John Berryman [his rank at the time of the presentation]

Served with his Regiment the whole of the war, was present at the Battle of the Alma, and was also engaged in the pursuit at Mackenzie's Farm, where he succeeded in capturing three Russian prisoners, when they were within reach of their own guns.

Was present and charged at the Battle of Balaclava, where, his horse being shot under him, he stopped on the field with a wounded officer (Captain Webb) amidst a shower of shot and shell, although repeatedly told by that officer to consult his own safety, and leave him, but he refused to do so, and on Sergeant John Farrall [sic] coming by, with his assistance, carried Captain Webb out of the range of the guns.

He has also a Clasp for Inkerman."

[Source: London Gazette, 27th of February 1857.]

The medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria at a ceremony held in Hyde Park on the 26th of June 1857, he being the only one of his Regiment present.

Two paintings exist of the event, both now in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle (see photographs of these in the 4th Hussar files). In one, John Berryman is not represented — he being next in line to Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn, 11th Hussars, who is the last figure in line on the left hand side.

In the second, painted from the seating behind the presentation, he is just visible behind Alexander Dunn, he being to the left of the figure on the white horse.

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

Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.

Commemorations

Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.

Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.

Present at the Annual Dinners in 1890, 1892 and 1893.

He appeared with other Crimean War veterans as a "Battle of Balaklava Hero" in the Lord Mayor's Show, 1890. A specially printed programme for this event lists all these men. Berryman is shown as a Major, VC, travelling in the 20th carriage in the procession. [RM]

Further detailed medal information archived.

Life after service

In an Account and Address Book formerly used by James W. Wightman when he was Secretary of the Balaclava Association, his address was shown as "Richmond Villa, Langley, Bucks."

1891 Census

Upper Court Farm, Woldingham.

John Berryman, 65, Farmer, Major retired from Cavalry, born Dudley.

Florence, 28, daughter, Secunderabad, East Indies.

Hannah Kinsey, niece, born Dudley.

Also two Servants.

1901 Census

Upper Court Lodge, Woldingham.

Florence Berryman, 38, living on own means, born Secunderabad.

Hannah Kinsey, 52, cousin, born Dudley.

Also a Servant.

Death & burial

Died at Upper Court, Surrey, on the 27th of June 1896 in his 71st year and was buried in the churchyard of St. Agate's on Wednesday the 1st of July. See photographs of his grave-stone, the house at in which he died, St Agate's Church, and two other portraits of him, in the 17th Lancer file.

A report of his death appeared in the local newspaper, the "Chatham Free Press", Saturday, July 4th 1896, (but nothing of his funeral in later editions):

"Woldingham — Death of Major Berryman, VC. Death has removed another member of the famous Light Brigade in the person of Major John Berryman, VC, who passed away at his residence, Upper Court, Woldingham, Surrey, at the advanced age of seventy-one.

Major Berryman was employed with the 17th Lancers throughout the Crimean War. Taking part in the battle of the Alma and pursuit of McKenzie's Farm, where he succeeded in catching three Russians, when they were within reach of their own guns.

During the gallant Charge of the Light Brigade, the late officer, who was then a Troop Sergeant Major of the "Death or; Glory Boys," got as far as the Russian batteries, when his horse was shot under him. Procuring a stray charger, he mounted, but was down again almost immediately.

At that moment, Berryman saw that Captain Webb of the 17th Lancers had received a severe wound, went to that officer's assistance, and remained on the field with him. Amidst a shower of shot and shell and although repeatedly told by Captain Webb to consult his own safety and leave him, he refused to do so and with the help of another comrade, Sergeant John Farrell, carried the officer out of range of the guns. For this gallant feat he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Crimean medal with four clasps, and the Turkish medal.

Major Berryman also served with great distinction during the Indian Mutiny and the Zulu War of 1879. He retired from the Army in 1883 with the honorary rank of Major."

Further information

A Henry J. [sic] Kinsey is shown in the 1881 Census Returns as living at 4, Churchfield Street, Dudley, an Iron Turner, Widower, aged 57, born at Penkridge, Stafford, with his sons, George K. [sic], Unmarried, a Solicitor's Clerk, 32, born at Dudley, William H., an Iron Turner, Unmarried, 25, born at Dudley, and a daughter, Elisabeth S., a Housekeeper, Unmarried, 29, also born at Dudley.

Florence Berryman was buried in the same grave as her father (see inscription on the stone), having died on the 4th of November 1925, aged 62 years, the wife of Edward Wimbush, also of Upper Court, Woldingham.

Links

• Wikipedia: John Berryman (VC)
• Add other links from this page, if useful

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1891 & 1901 kindly provided by Chris Poole.