According to the Army register Book of Births and Baptisms, born on the 12th of May 1817 and baptised on 8th June 1817 in Woolwich, Kent.
[PB, February 2015: EJB thought John Chadwick was born in Oldham, but it is now known that (although his family had been associated with Oldham for many generations), he was born in Woolwich, the son of Sergeant James Chadwick, and his wife Ann nee Elliott.]
We are very grateful to Mike Newman, who contacted the EJBA in 2014, for this information, and for sending detailed information and important documents about JC. [ADD more on MN.]
An article published in the Oldham Evening Chronicle in 2010 included a claim from a local researcher, John Cleverley, that John Chadwick's parents were Irish, and that he was a clerk and married when he enrolled in the Lancers in Manchester at the age of 18. He had "also uncovered that John Chadwick's father, James, was a sergeant in the Artillery Regiment, so soldiering was in the family blood".
In October 2012 the chance finding of a notice in a Sydney, Australia, newspaper suggests that John Chadwick had a sister, Ann Maria, who married there in 1862, and at least two brothers: "Captain James Chadwick, of Rose Villa, near Gosport, and of Mr Henry Chadwick, superintendent of the Eccles Division of Police, England."
[We are hoping to verify these interesting connnections. For the full article, see Further information, below.]
Enlisted into the 17th Lancers at Manchester on the 27th of June 1835, at the age of 18 years and two months. No other details are shown.
From Private to Corporal: 27th of May 1840.
Corporal to Sergeant (as Orderly Room Clerk): on the 12th of August 1841.
On the 1st of January 1842, at Stirling, Scotland, he married Jane Maitland Erskine. The ceremony was performed by the Revd. H. Henderson, a Prestbyterian Minister. His wife was living in Hounslow during the Crimean campaign.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major: 3rd of April 1846.
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major: 25th of March 1847.
Gazetted as Cornet in the 17th Lancers: 27th of February 1852.
Appointed Adjutant, 17th Lancers: 12th of March 1852.
Lieutenant, 17th Lancers: 5th of October 1854.
Lieutenant John Chadwick served in the Eastern campaign of 1854 as Adjutant of the 17th Lancers, including the affair of the Bulganak, the battles of the Alma and Balaclava, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner after his horse had been killed, and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and three Clasps and the Turkish Medal.)
On the 25th of October 1854, at the Charge, he was severely wounded and taken prisoner of war after his horse had been killed.
According to Hart's Army List he rode as serre-file [the officer placed in the rearmost rank of soldiers in a troop] during the Charge. His horse, having come to a stop through wounds, left him, still in the saddle, warding off attacks until he was knocked to the ground and wounded in the neck by a lance.
[PB, February, 2015: There is a brief account of his capture in Kinglake's history.]
At nearly the same time [as William Morris was surrounded and made prisoner], and not far from the same spot, another officer of the 17th Lancers fell alive into the hands of the enemy. This was Lieutenant Chadwick. Before he reached the line of the battery, his charger had received so many wounds, and lost so much blood, as to be all but incapable of stirring, though yet remaining on his legs.
In spite of the singular and tormenting disadvantage of thus having under him an almost immovable horse, Chadwick found means to defend himself for some time against the stray Cossacks and other dragoons who, one after another, beset him; but at length he was caught in the neck by a Cossack lance, which lifted him out of his saddle, and threw him to the ground with such force as to stun him. When his senses returned, and whilst he still lay on the ground, he succeeded in defending himself with his revolver against a Cossack who sought to despatch him; but presently, from the direction of our right rear, other Cossacks, to the number of eight or ten, rode down yelling, with lances poised, and to these (when they circled around him, and made signs that he might have quarter if he would throw down his pistol) Lieutenant Chadwick at length surrendered.
[Source: Kinglake, The Battle of Balaclava, 3rd Edition 1875, p.248.]
For an account of how the extent of his injuries and his capture became known after the Charge, see also the record of Captain Edward Fellowes.
A letter, dated 2nd of April 1855, was sent from Karkoff in Russia [now Kharkiv, Ukraine, about 600 miles north of Balaclava] by John Chadwick to his brother, Captain James Chadwick [regiment?]. This was published in the Army and Navy Gazette [unknown date], and in numerous other local newspapers in May 1855:
Karkoff, April 2, 1855.
My dear James,
I have deferred from day to day, from week to week, writing to you, in the hope of having some definite news to give you as to what is likely to be done with me and the other officers, prisoners. All we know, however, is that we are to be sent to Rioizan, about 100 versts from Moscow [modern Ryazan, 120 miles south-east of Moscow], where, I suppose, we shall remain until we are exchanged, which I sincerely hope will be this summer.
We left Simferopol on the 20th January, and arrived here on the 15th of last month [March], so that you may imagine that we suffered some little inconvenience during that long march at such a time of the year. The distance was something over 700 versts (a verst is two-thirds of an English mile [i.e. about 1km]).
We have a little more than that distance yet to traverse, but the Governor-General here has very kindly allowed us to remain a little to recruit ourselves, and until the weather gets a little better for travelling; besides which we have been given to understand that the present Emperor has given an order that we are to travel alone with post-horses, and not in the same manner as we came here — day by day, with English, French, and Turkish soldiers, prisoners, and Russian convicts on their way to Siberia.
[PB: i.e. the hoi-polloi? Does he believe he should be travelling separately from the men of his regiment? Perhaps, though admittedly he subsequently lists each of them by name.]
It would be quite useless to describe to you what we have suffered on the journey here; I could not do it. Suffice it to tell you, that I was impious enough to wish often that I had met the same fate as my poor mare did at Balaklava.
I am in company with Captain Frampton, 50th Regiment; Lieut. Duff, 23rd; Lieut. Clowes, 8th Hussars; and a Mr. Carew, who was master of the Culloden transport, which was wrecked near Eupatoria on the 14th November. He, poor fellow, became idiotic, and is now in hospital. He is nearly well now, but weak.
Of twelve men of the 17th Lancers who were taken prisoners on the same day that I was, five only are living. Corporal Hall and private Jenner at Simferopol, the former having had his leg taken off, the latter his arm; private Wightman was left sick at Alexandrioski on the way here; and private Marshall is here. Private McAllister has gone on for his destination [also Ryazan, or elsewhere?]. The seven dead are privates Harrison, Ellis, Young, Kirk, Edge, Brown, and Sharpe. The latter two started quite well from Simferopol, but died on the journey. I wish you would write to Taylor, the riding master, at the depot, in order that he might cause their friends to be written to...
I know nothing, of course, about the state of affairs with regiments at home, but hope you will give me in your next letter all the news you can, bearing in mind, of course, your letter will be read, and not reach me if it contains anything objectionable.
With best love, &c., believe me, my dear James, ever your most affectionate brother,
John Chadwick.
The version reprinted in the Daily News, 10 May 1855, began "Mr. Wm. Bates, jun., of Old Trafford, has forwarded to the Manchester Examiner the annexed copy of a letter received from his cousin, Lieutenant John Chadwick, of the 17th Lancers, to whose brother, Captain James Chadwick, of Gosport, the original was addressed. Lieutenant Chadwick and Lieutenant Clowes, of Broughton, were the two officers made prisoners at the celebrated Light Cavalry Charge at Balaklava, on the 17th of October last [sic]:"
[PB: It is also reprinted in Anthony Dawson, Letters (2014), pp 162-3.]
Extract from a letter written from Balaclava by Robert Portal of the 4th Light Dragoons, on the 27th of September 1855:
"The two officers, one in the 8th Hussars [i.e. George Clowes] and the other in the 17th Lancers [John Chadwick] who were taken prisoner by the Russians on the 25th of October last, have just arrived here, having been exchanged.
They gave us most interesting accounts of all they had gone through, which, bad indeed, is nothing to what we passed though last winter here.
They were made to march with convicts to a town near Moscow, as no Officers under the rank of a Field Officer was allowed by the late Emperor a vehicle of any description. They allowed them only 2/6d. per day and treated them very badly until the present Emperor came to the throne, when they noticed a visible change.
They say the usual population seemed the most happy, industrious, well-off and contented, and the finest looking people they ever saw. All the Russians they saw quite laughed at the idea of peace, and all were ready to go and join the Army when called upon.
The 17th Officer has been allowed to go home until the 25th of November, but the 8th man has not been allowed to go at all, which we think is a hard case, as he has not a rag to his back, and no boots or shoes even, when he arrived here."
Memo to Lieutenant and Adjutant Chadwick, 17th Lancers, 86 Great Portland Street, London, dated 8th of December 1855:
"Horse Guards.
Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th inst, and desire that you will join the Depot of the Land Transport Corps at Bristol with a view to your embarking with a detachment for the Crimea.
I have, etc. etc.,
W. A. Forster, AAG."
This was followed by another Memo, 19th of December 1855:
"Sir, — I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief to request that you will acquaint me for his Lordship's information the circumstances under which you returned to this country and whether you were provided with transport in a Government transport and by whom such passage was ordered."
And a further one on the 27th of December 1855:
"Sir, — I have laid before the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief your letter of the 24th inst, and am directed by his Lordship to acquaint you in reply that as it appears that you have been selected to fill the position of Adjutant at the Royal Kilmainham, Hospital, your embarkation for the Crimea, as previously ordered, is dispensed with.
I have, etc. etc.,
W. A. Foster, AAG."
He exchanged to the Staff (as Adjutant of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham) being appointed to this post on the 19th of December 1855, and on to half-pay in the 15th Light Dragoons, with the rank of Temporary Captain, on the 29th of April 1856.
There is also correspondence indicating that he also acted as Quarter Master w.e.f. [with effect from] the 1st of October 1856.
"Horse Guards,
26th January 1857.
Sir, — I am directed by HRH the General Commanding-in-Chief to acquaint you that from a letter received from the War Office the sum of £16/9/0 will be sent to you in aid of the expenses of your messing whilst on board the "Robert Law" from the Crimea to Malta and of your pasage from Malta to this country, for I have, etc. etc.,
W.A. Forster, DAG.
[To] Lieutenant Chadwick, late 17th Lancers, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham."
"Horse Guards,
14th February 1857.
Sir, — With reference to my communication of the 26th ultimo, I have it now in command to acquaint you that a bill for £16/9/0 in aid of the expense of your passage from Malta to England and the difference between the sum paid by you for messing and for which you are liable has been made out to you and is ready for delivery to you at the Office of the Accountant General for the Navy,
I have, etc. etc.,
W.A., DAG.
[To] Lieutenant Chadwick, late 17th Lancers, Royal Hospital, Dublin."
His wife Jane died in January 1867, while he was serving at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
Although buried in the Hospital Cemetery (in the part reserved for officers and their families) presumably she did not die within the precincts of the Hospital as she is not shown in the records (still at the Hospital) of those who did.
However, an extract from Freeman's Journal for Thursday the 24th of January 1867, states otherwise:
"Deaths: January 22nd at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Jane, the beloved wife of Captain John Chadwick. Her remains will be interred at the Royal Hospital on tomorrow, Friday morning, at half-past nine o'clock. Friends will please accept this notice."
The gravestone erected to Jane bears the inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of Jane, the beloved wife of Captain John Chadwick, who died 22nd January 1867, aged 45 years."
In May 1867 he was granted sick leave for one month and this was subsequently extended for the months of June and July, his physician stating at the time "Rest and quiet are essential, is unable to attend to any business."
Chadwick himself wrote to the Royal Hospital on the 9th of July 1867:
"The Ellesmere Hotel,
Hurst Street,
Liverpool.
I have the honour to acknowledge having this day received your letter of the 6th inst., announcing the acceptance of my resignation of the office of Adjutant and Quarter Master of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham and intimating that the Governors have been pleased to grant me leave of absence until further notice."
And again a few months later:
"War Office,
Pall Mall.
2Oth November 1867.
To the Board of Governors, Kilmainham Hospital
I am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, have been pleased to award to Captain John Chadwick, Adjutant and Quarter Master, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, an annual retired allowance of £36-13-4d, and to request that you will state the date inclusively to which he has received pay, in order that instructions may be given for the payment of his pension from the day following.
I am to add that the Lords of the Treasury, in computing towards pension the value of Captain Chadwick's house and offices, set down in the memorandum which accompanied the letters of the 11th ultimo, at £75 a year, have reckoned it according to the usual practice at 1/6th of his salary, viz., £25-0-0.
Pay was £150 per annum, whilst the value of:
Apartments and Coach House — £75 per annum.
Garden 12.
Coals 8.
Candles 5.
£100."
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
To be Sold on: 4th & 5th March 2020
The Crimea medal awarded to Lieutenant and Adjutant John Chadwick, 17th Lancers, who was severely wounded and taken prisoner at Balaklava in the charge of the Light Brigade
Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Lieut. & Adjt. John Chadwick. 17th Lancers.) official Hunt & Roskell engraved naming, very fine.
Estimate: £5,000 — £7,000
Provenance: By descent to the present vendor who was gifted the medal by his aunt in 1940.
A fine example of a Hunt & Roskell officially engraved Crimea medal, numismatically correct in every respect.
John Chadwick was born in about 1817 and enlisted into the 17th Lancers at Manchester in July 1835, regimental number 451. By 1851 he was Regimental Sergeant-Major and a member of Captain Morris' Troop. He was promoted to Cornet on 27 February 1852, and to Lieutenant on 25 October 1854. He 'served in the Eastern campaign of 1845 as Adjutant of the 17th Lancers, including the affair of Bulganac, battle of Alma, siege of Sebastopol, and battle of Balaklava, where he was severely wounded and taken prisoner, having also had his horse killed (Medal with three Clasps, and Turkish Medal).'
During the charge, Chadwick managed to reach the Russian guns but his horse, having been weakened by a loss of blood, could not move any further. He was then left to defend himself before a lance point to his neck knocked him from his horse and rendered him helpless. He was one of only two officers taken prisoner by the Russians, the other being Cornet Clowes of the 8th Hussars, and was released 12 months later.
On 29 April 1856, he exchanged into the 15th Hussars on half pay, later becoming an Honorary Captain in 1858 and appointed Adjutant and Quartermaster of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin._In 1864, in Lord Cardigan's lawsuit, he re-affirmed that a statement made by Patrick Rafferty of the 17th Lancers that Cardigan had reached the guns was truthful.
Chadwick's wife died in Dublin in 1867 and because of his failing health he decided to retire in December 1867, travelling to Liverpool where he lived at 25 Hurst Street. He died of cirrhosis ascites at the Southern Hospital, Greenlands Street, Liverpool, on 25 March 1869, and is buried in Arnfield Cemetery, Liverpool. All his effects were left to his brother Henry who lived in Sale, Cheshire.
[Source: Link. The editors are grateful to Tony Margrave for drawing this item to our attention.]
He later lived in Greenland Street, Liverpool, and also at 25 Hurst Street, Liverpool.
Death registered
John Chadwick, 51, March Quarter 1869, Liverpool.
He died in hospital at Liverpool on the 25th of March 1869, aged 51 years.
His death certificate shows that he died from "Cirrhosis Ascites", aged 51 years, in the Southern Hospital, Liverpool. Peter Pollard, of 7, Commercial Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, was present at, and the informant of, his death.
[PB: Ascites, a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, is a major complication of liver disease, itself often the result of excessive alcohol consumption.]
In his will, made on the 10th of February 1863, he left everything to his wife, Jane, but with the proviso that should she pre-decease him (which she did) everything was to go to his brother, Henry Chadwick. (Estate of under £600, when the will was proved on the 16th of July 1869.)
He was buried in Anfield Cemetery, Priory Road, Liverpool, on the 27th of March 1869, the grave number being No 1323 Section CH8 (C. of E.). The grave was a purchased site, the registered owner being shown as Henry Chadwick, gentleman, of Sale in Cheshire. (It was he who advised the War Office of John Chadwick's death, his address being given as Hope Field, Hope Street, Sale, Cheshire.)
The Cemetery Order Book lists his place of death as being the Southern and not the General Hospital.
A 5-foot-high memorial of Yorkshire stone was erected in Anfield Cemetery bearing the inscription:
"In memory of Captain John Chadwick, 17th Lancers, who died on the 25th of March 1869, aged 51 years.
He was one of the few who survived the Cavalry Charge at Balaclava on the 25th of October 1854, when out of two hundred of this brave regiment, only forty returned."
[PB: There may be photographs of John Chadwick's headstone in the archive, to be uploaded. In 2015, there was also a photograph on Flickr here.]
[PB, February 2015: Lord Cardigan mentioned Captain Chadwick several times in his extensive correspondence with A. W. Kinglake, while the latter was writing his great history of the war. In particular, Cardigan returns again and again to a letter Chadwick has written that supports Cardigan's account of his conduct as they approached the guns. To follow up: Does this letter still exist? Does Kinglake refer to its content directly?]
Ems Augt. 9th. 64
Dear Sir
I am endeavouring to obtain all the information possible upon the points you desire with regard to the attack of Balaklava — I send you a letter from the late Adjutant of the 17th Lancers — He was Adjutant on the day of Balaklava — was wounded & taken Prisoner & kept a year in Russia -
I shall be very anxious to hear from you in reply to my letter of a few days since -
I am Dear Sir_
Yrs very faithfully_
Cardigan
PS -I will thank you to return me Capn. Chadwick's letter at your leisure.
Decr. 2nd. 66
Dear Sir
I beg to transmit to you a letter which I have received from Captain Chadwick for the purpose of forwarding it to you; and I hope it will prove satisfactory to you — I certainly must think it a very interesting narrative.
[...]Hoping to hear from you — I am
Dear Sir_
Very faithfully yours_
Cardigan
Private
Deene Wansford_Decr. 9th. 66
Dear Mr Kinglake_
I feel extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 3d. inst. and particularly for your kind reference to Captn. Chadwick's letter of praise of the conduct of the Leader of the Light Brigade in the charge of Balaklava -
[...]Dear Sir_
Very faithfully
Yrs_
Cardigan
[Source: Excellent transcriptions of these letters by David Kelsey were once available at http://crimeantexts.russianwar.co.uk/sources/bsk/c2k.html, but are now (Feb 2015) at http://cwrs.russianwar.co.uk/cwrs-crimtexts-bsk-car2king.html.]
Extract from the Oldham Chronicle, Saturday 17th of November 1855:
"Lieutenant and Adjutant John Chadwick
This officer came on a visit to his friends on Tuesday last, at one o'clock, and thoughout the remainder of the day the bells of St. Mary's rang almost without intermission, in a hearty welcome to a brave and distinguished soldier. Lieutenant Chadwick entered her Majesty's service as a private in the 17th Lancers and he had been meritoriously promoted to the rank which he now occupies.
The disaster which befell the above regiment on the 25th of October 1854 is fresh in the recollection of everyone, and Lieutenant Chadwick is one of the few survivors of the memorable Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, where he was taken prisoner. On being taken by the enemy he was marched into the interior of the Russian empire and during his captivity he is known to have endured very severe hardships.
He was liberated at the recent exchange of prisoners with Russia and immediately on his arrival in England took the opportunity to visit his native town, which amongst its many gallant and heroic sons, has every reason to be proud of Lieutenant Chadwick. A dinner was given in his honour at the Royal Assembly Rooms on Wednesday (the 18th of November) and is fully reported elsewhere in this edition of the paper."
In March 1984, following the showing on BBC Two of the Balaclava Documentary, a Mrs. Lilian Boulton, wife of a Prebendary of a church at Harrogate, Yorkshire, wrote enclosing a copy of a printed article about him. It is undated, and part of it is obviously a reprint from an earlier issue of the newspaper.
Mrs. Boulton said that John Chadwick was her maternal grandfather's brother, and that her eldest sister was the proud possessor of the plume that had decorated his helmet. The wording of the article is as follows:
"Cornet and Adjutant, John Chadwick. 17th Lancers.
Oldhamer with the Light Brigade
Crimean veterans everywhere are sure of a hearty and cordial greeting, and their prowess is held in high esteem, nowhere more than in Oldham.
Still it is, perhaps, not within the knowledge of many that Oldham was represented in the most famous incident of that campaign, viz., the charge of the Light Brigade, and that one of her sons worthily maintained his part in the wonderful exhibition of British pluck and grit. Into our hands has been placed a contemporary record of the principal incidents, and as it is of much more general interest today, we make no excuse for its re-publication. It is as follows:
'It is with deep regret that we announce details of the death of Captain Chadwick, of the 17th Lancers, which took place on the 25th ult. and a brief record of his services may be of interest to our readers.'
Captain Chadwick was a native of Oldham. The regiment to which the deceased soldier belonged was ordered out to the Crimea War, and proceeded to Varna, and whilst there he suffered severely from epidemic fever for ten days in succession. Many of his comrades fell victims to this disease, and actuated by that kindly disposition which was one of his chief qualities, he often attended their burials. It was with no small delight, after so serious a gap made in the regiment, that the remaining portion received the news to embark for the Crimea.
On the 4th of September 1854 they embarked at Varna for the Crimea and disembarked at Old Point on the 17th of the same month. After passing through several vicissitudes, we find Captain Chadwick, (then Lieutenant) one of that glorious 600 who immortalised themselves by their valour, and whom the Poet Laureate has immortalised in song. The deceased saw Captain Nolan deliver the fatal message to Lord Lucan, through which the Balaclava Charge was made.
When the attack was being made, Lieutenant Chadwick's horse was severely wounded by a ball received on the animal's neck and this had the effect of covering him with a shower of blood from the wound. After this, he felt that his chances of returning alive were hopeless. He would not leave his regiment however, but proceeded on in the face of heavy fire from the 12 pounders.
After the charge, in which he was nearly unhorsed, he was surrounded by a number of the enemy, and had some difficulty in retaining his seat in consequence of his murderous assailants, each giving him a probe with their respective lances. He got his mare's head into the position towards our forces, when a Cossack advanced towards him with his lance in a threatening attitude. The captain at once prepared to meet his would-be assailant, but seeing his position, the latter retreated.
At this moment he observed a Russian dragoon loading his carbine and suspecting his intentions the captain pressed on. Whilst so doing the Cossack alluded to before had turned round to throw his lance, which hit the captain in the neck and threw him from his horse. This was awkward for our townsman, but the best thing for the poor animal he rode, which was dying at the time. This horse was presented to Captain Chadwick by the Duke of Cambridge, its value being 100 guineas.
The soldier recovered from his fall in a few moments, and on raising his head from the ground he saw the Cossacks behaving in a most barbaric manner, stabbing and wounding the English troops as they lay on the ground. Seeing one of these approaching, the Captain bounded to his feet, and found that he was able to defend himself with his sword and revolver. In the hurry of the moment he threw the former away and presented the latter to the approaching Cossack, who, seeing this, turned away.
Whilst considering what was to be done, he observed six Ural Cossacks riding down on him. British pluck still animating him, he kept his assailants at bay with his revolver, but in a few minutes he was surrounded by some half-dozen or more Cossacks and dragoons, who called upon him to surrender.
He was also disarmed, and in this defenceless state he became the object of many indignities. One seized him by the belt, another gave him a blow with a knout across his back. At this time the captain felt so indignant that, to use his own words, had he been armed he would have shot his assailant whatever might have been the consequences.
Being now a prisoner, he was taken to a village in the interior of the country, where he was thrown into a hovel along with some more British soldiers, many of whom were in a dying state. In this prison he was pained to see his friend, Mr. Clowes, a Lancashire gentleman, brought in. However, this gentleman was a most pleasing companion, and did much to relieve the monotony of prison life.
He was eleven months in prison, during which time he received all the kindnesses the Russian officers had at their disposal, but the treatment by the Government was widely different. He and his fellow companions spent two or three miserable days at Tobergonam, when they were removed to Simpheropol and Baksohi-Seria towards Inkerman.
They were then taken to a town about 1000 miles into the interior, to reach which they had to travel over the most wretched parts of the country. They were removed with the convicts that were being sent to Siberia, and they had to travel at the rate of 15 miles a day, dressed in filthy sheepskins. Here they were imprisoned together in miserable hovels, just like sheep.
The Emperor Nicholas however, died, and his successor issued an order that the prisoners were to be better treated. Captain Chadwick was accordingly moved, with his companions, to Odessa in post-carts. They arrived at this place at twelve o'clock at night, and were, notwithstanding orders to the contrary, very badly treated by the authorities.
After their arrival they were kept for three hours in the Market-place, and afterwards thrust into the most miserable hole it was possible to conceive. He and his fellow-prisoners had remonstrated about this, but they were soon removed to the quarantine building, and after remaining three days in close confinement there, they were informed that the white flag had arrived on the beach, and that they were wanted. They went down at once, and perceived the white flag and the British ensign. The Captain and his companions were then taken on board and became free men again.
Captain Chadwick soon afterwards paid a visit to his native town, and in the "Oldham Chronicle" of November the 17th 1855, there appeared a lengthy report of a dinner given in his honour at the Angel Assembly Rooms. Mr. Jas. Platt occupied the chair, and amongst the many gentlemen who assembled to do honour to their brave townsman were Messrs. Henry Chadwick, Josiah Radcliffe, John Scholfield, N. Worthington, etc. etc,. Our report, it is needless to remark, states that the health of the gallant officer was drunk with 'three times three'."
[This report, it has now been ascertained, came from the Oldham Chronicle, 27th of March 1869.]
A further letter from Mrs. Boulton states that her sister (now in her 90th year) has the plume from his helmet preserved in a glass case. Her eldest son is apparently a senior officer in the Army. Unfortunately, she was at the moment unable to assist in regard to John Chadwick's background, but seemingly the Chadwicks became a well-to-do business family at the time of the Industrial Revolution. She possesses a large painting of his father, and there is also a stained glass-window to the family in the North aisle of Oldham Parish Church (St Mary's).
__________
[PB: In 2010, a century and a half later, a similar article appeared in the same newspaper:]
"John's heroism comes to light
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 08 November 2010
The heroism of an Oldham cavalryman who was wounded and taken prisoner at the Charge of the Light Brigade has been uncovered by local historians.
Lt John Chadwick rose from humble origins to be a highly regarded adjutant by the time of the infamous 1854 battle during the Crimean War.
The disaster, part of the Battle of Balaclava, was immortalised in Alfred Tennyson's epic poem with the lines 'Into the valley of death rode the six hundred'.
John Chadwick, who was in the 17th Lancers and probably riding a 100-guinea horse given to him by the Duke of Cambridge, was wounded in the charge on the Russian enemy in a heavily-defended valley.
There were 118 of his colleagues killed, 127 wounded and 60 taken prisoner, as he was.
But 37-year-old Chadwick survived prison, a forced march with convicts, and his wounds, to return to Oldham in 1855.
A celebration dinner was held for him at the Angel Inn, near the old Oldham Town Hall, when the great and good toasted him and sang patriotic songs in his honour.
The tale of heroism came to light when Ann Parry from Saddleworth Historical Society found a yellowing invitation to the dinner among old family papers.
She passed it to John Cleverley, from Greenfield, who has researched Oldham's early militia, who also consulted local expert Ian Wilkinson.
And coincidentally Mr Wilkinson discovered that one of Chadwick's distant relatives had been researching his cavalryman ancestor.
Chadwick was rewarded with a Crimean War medal and three clasps for his bravery.
He was born in Oldham in 1817 of Irish parents, and was a clerk and married, when at 18 when he enrolled in the Lancers in Manchester.
In his speech at the Angel Inn dinner, he described the charge, and how many men said or thought that it was 'unwise'. His horse was seriously wounded by shot, and he added: 'I was overwhelmed with a shower of blood.'
He was struck by a lance thrown by a Cossack, and bravely tried to defend himself with a revolver but was surrounded and captured.
With fellow prisoners he was made to march with convicts at a rate of 16 miles a day dressed in filthy sheepskins.
Eventually he was freed at Odessa on the Black Sea, and a British ship was allowed to pick him up. When he saw the British ensign he said words could not describe his feelings.
Later he became an honorary captain and adjutant at a hospital in Dublin, before retiring in 1867, and moving to Liverpool where he died in 1869 and is buried at Anfield Cemetery.
John Chadwick and his wife, Jane, who was Scottish, met when he was stationed with the Lancers near Glasgow, but they had no children so there are no direct descendants.
However, John Cleverley's research also uncovered that John Chadwick's father, James, was a sergeant in the Artillery Regiment, so soldiering was in the family blood.
John, a Second World War captain and Normandy Veteran, said: 'When we see what our Army heroes are doing in Afghanistan it is good to reflect on another Oldham hero.'
Ian Wilkinson added: 'I wasn't aware of this man before the invitation came to light. It was quite out of the blue that someone from Oldham was at the Charge of the Light Brigade, survived and was captured.
'I believe he went straight back to the Crimea after the dinner in Oldham. It's certainly all Boys' Own stuff.' "
[PB: http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/49051/johns-heroism-comes-to-light (accessed 3.10.2012).]
"The Sydney Morning Herald
Monday 17 February 1862
On the 13th February, by special license, at the Scots Church, Jamison-street, by the Reverend Dr. Lang, Henry Andrew Edmondson, widower, eldest son of the late Mr. George Edmondson, of Shadwell, London, to Ann Maria, relict of the late Mr. Georgec Ketsey, builder, of this city, sister of the late Captain James Chadwick, of Rose Villa, near Gosport, and of Mr Henry Chadwick, superintendent of the Eccles Division of Police, England , also of Captain John Chadwick, of the Royal Military Hospital Dublin, late of the Crimean war."
[PB: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13224673, accessed 3.10.12.]
...James Chadwick (1776-1831) is of particular interest as he started a line of career soldiers. James joined the Royal Artillery in 1799 (having already served in the Staffordshire Militia) being discharged as sergeant in 1825. He took part in Battle of Corunna in 1809 in the Peninsula War.
Two of his sons served in the military. His eldest son James Chadwick (1811-1859) served just over 30 years in the Royal Artillery having joined as a 12 year old. He was discharged as a sergeant major.
Perhaps of more military interest was James senior's youngest surviving son John Chadwick 1817-1869. He enlisted in the 17th Lancers in 1835. He had a long career with this regiment and was one of the surviving officers of the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava on the 25th October 1854.
John had risen through the ranks and served as a lieutenant and adjutant at the battle. This is a curious mix as an adjutant is usually a senior captain and personal staff officer of the regimental commanding officer. John had previously been the regimental sergeant major (from 1847) and perhaps his experience was why he was made adjutant? Anyway, at the battle he was wounded in the neck by a lance and held captive by the Russians for a year. He had originally been listed as killed in action. He served in the army until 1867 and was discharged as a captain.
[Source: Michael Newman and Richard Robinson, "The Chadwick mayors of Oldham (Part 1)", The Manchester Genealogist<.i>, Volume 50, No 4, 2014.]