Born at Cawnpore, India, on the 6th of August 1831, the son of Sergeant Major Edward Cork of the 11th Hussars and his wife, Ann Marie. He was baptised on the 4th of September by the Revd. Edward White.
Enlisted into the 2nd Bn. Rifle Brigade at the Parkhurst Depot on the Isle of Wight on the 1st of September 1848. No enlistment details other than his trade as a clerk are shown.
Regimental No. 3013.
Transferred to the 11th Hussars on the 1st of June 1849. He was paid an extra gratuity of £1/5./6d. this being the difference of the cavalry to that paid to the infantry.
From Private to Corporal: 9th of July 1854.
Wounded in action at Balaclava, sent to Scutari (no date shown) but was at the General Depot from the 30th of October and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 14th of January 1855. He had been reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 27th of November 1854, for "drunkenness".
Transferred to the 7th Hussars at Hounslow on the 10th of August 1857. Regimental No. 134.
Embarked for India aboard the "Greenwich" on the 27th of August 1857.
Served in the field in Oude, East Indies, from the 4th of February to the 1st of December 1858, including the siege of Lucknow.
Imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial 18th-30th of September 1858.
En route to England from the 3rd of June 1861. He joined the Depot on the 5th of November and was sent "on furlo" 7th-10th of November, but was paid until the 19th of November 1861.
Discharged, "by claim", from Canterbury on the 11th of November 1861.
Served 12 years 254 days.
Conduct: "good". In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Lucknow.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
Attended the Annual Dinners in 1902 and 1907.
He was also present at the Jubilee celebrations organised by T.H. Roberts at his Fleet Street offices in June of 1897 and signed the testimonial given to Mr. Roberts on that occasion for his efforts on behalf of the veterans and was most probably pictured in the photograph taken at that time. (There is a copy of the former in the 11th Hussar "Scrapbook" and of the latter in the "Memoirs" file.)
He wrote from 14, Highland Street, Eastney, Portsmouth, when he accepted Mr. T.H. Robert's invitation to the Jubilee celebrations:
26th May 1897:
Dear Sir,
I would be very happy to accept your kind invitation as I am one of the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade on the 25th October, 1854, at Balaclava, as a Corporal in the 11th Hussars. With many thanks from one whose last shout will be for England.
I remain,
Yours very respectfully,
Charles Cork.
He received a total of £48/9/0 in financial help from the Roberts Fund during his lifetime.
1881 Census
1, Wentworth Cottages, Farnborough, Hampshire
The 1881 Census shows him as a Shoreman, Corn Miller, aged 49, born in the East Indies, with his wife, Elizabeth, aged 47, born at Hampton Wick, Middlesex, and 8 children, their ages ranging from 16 years to 1 year.
1891 Census
Albert Road, Aldershot.
Charles Cork, 59, Forage contractor foreman, born Bengal.
Elizabeth, 57, born Hampton Wick.
Three children shown: Edward 19, Maria Louisa 15, and Beatrice 11.
Charles Cork died on the 20th of January 1900, at 41, Highland Road [sic] Eastney, Portsmouth, in his 69th year and was buried in Grave No. 15-8 in the Highland Road Cemetery at Portsmouth on the 24th of January. His funeral expenses were paid by the Roberts Fund. Also buried in the same grave-space was an Elizabeth Cork (possibly his wife) on the 23rd of January 1895, aged 62 years. No headstone was erected, the cemetery records showing that this was an un-purchased grave and was reclaimed in 1924.
Copy of a letter sent to Mr. T.H. Roberts by Cork's daughter, Beatrice:
"36 Albert Road,
Southsea, Hants.
Jan. 27th. 1900:
"Sir,
In answer to your letter my father was buried yesterday (the 26th.) by the Northumberland Fusilers. The funeral was carried out by them with the deepest respect. As the expenses are far more than we can meet, we should be very grateful if you could forward us any help from your Fund, as my father lay ill a considerable time and us allowing him necessaries leaves his name in much debt, so we should like to cover this as soon as possible, but have not the means to do so. Kindly pardon me, but I have read what your Fund has done for the men who died in need.
Yours truly,
(Signed) Beatrice Cork."
Mr. Roberts added — "In response, I have sent £5 from the Fund."
A picture of him appeared in the "Illustrated Bits" at the time of his death, and noted that "Corporal Cork wears the "I.B." Jubilee Rosette, of which the old veterans are almost as proud of as their medals." (There is a copy of this picture in the 11th Hussar file.)
Confirmation that the grave in which both he and his wife were buried in the Highland Road Cemetery at Portsmouth has been reclaimed comes from the information that a stone giving the date of death of a woman named on the gravestone now on the site as the 31st of December 1923. (EJB: There is a photograph of his gravesite — tidied up for the purpose of taking it — and now topped by another different family memorial stone, in the 11th Hussar file.)
Charles Cork was the son of No. 41 Edward Cork of the 11th Hussars and his wife, Ann Maria. A brother, George, an "infant", was buried in the Cantonment Cemetery at Meerut, India, on the 6th of August 1834. Edward Cork was born at Rudham, Norfolk, and had originally enlisted into the 17th Lancers at Fakenham in July of 1808. He was "one year under age" at the time, 5' 7' in height, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His trade was that of a tailor. He became a Corporal in 1817 and Sergeant in 1821.
Transferring (as a Private) to the 11th Hussars, he had attained the rank of Troop Sergeant Major by 1825. He was discharged as "no longer equal for active service" in October of 1837 with a total service (to count towards pension) of 42 years 6 months and with an actual service of 27 years 6 months, Aged 46 (says 47) on discharge, his character being "Unexceptionable."
He served throughout the Deccan campaign of 1817-18, being present at the capture of Prince Holkar's baggage and the surrender of the Prince himself. Served at Bhurtpoor in 1826 and received the medal and clasp. He also received the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 28th of November 1838. He was still alive in 1875.
Census information for 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.