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

1250, Private Alfred BIGNELL — 17th Lancers

Birth & early life

Born at Hendon, Middlesex.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Brighton on the 10th of June 1854.

No other enlistment details apart from his trade as a paper-maker are shown.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea from Brighton on the 20th of June 1855.

At Scutari from the 31st of October — 19th of December 1855.

Is shown on a nominal roll of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as being On Duty there from the 4th of November.

Discharge & pension

Discharged as "not likely to become efficient and on the Reduction of the Regiment" from Dublin on the 21st of March 1857.

Served 2 years 220 days.

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

Medals & commemorations

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

Life after service

[RM: The 1881 Census shows a man of this name, aged 42, a bricklayer, born Chelsea, Middlesex, living at 6 Ellis Street, London. He was married to Mary Ann, aged 33, with one daughter Ellen, aged 13. He was still living in Chelsea in 1901.]

1891 Census

11 Leele Street, Chelsea.

Alfred, Bignell 54 Bricklayer.

Mary A, 53, born London city.

Also a grandson.

Death & burial

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.