LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive
Added 2.12.12. Minor edits 15.4.14. Minor edits and new info added 3.12.18.
IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION
1182, Private Robert CHAPMAN — 8th Hussars
CHECK NAMES — Why has "Chapman" become "Champion" at the end?
Birth & early life
Born 25th May 1832 at Ripon, Yorkshire.
Enlistment
Enlisted at London on the 15th of September 1851.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 6.
Trade: Groom.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Lt. Brown hair.
Service
"Deserted" from Nottingham on the 10th of September 1852 and on rejoining the regiment on the 9th of October 1852 was tried by a Regimental Court-martial and sentenced to 20 days imprisonment.
From Private to Corporal: 28th of November 1854.
"Confined" from the 6th, and tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 9th of January 1855 for "being drunk on duty". He was reduced to Private.
At this time he was a member of the escort troop under Captain George Chetwode, to Lord Raglan.
Memos were written at the time on a point of military discipline as to whether such a charge was recognisable to be tried by a Regimental Court.
It is not clear from these as to whether or not this was so, but the sentences were allowed to stand.
One wonders, therefore, why the men concerned were not given the benefit of the doubt and re-instated in their original rank. Was it perhaps for fear of causing any embarrassment to those making out the charges in the first place?
(See also the record of 883, James Kavanagh, 8th Hussars.)
Letter from Major Shute, AAG, to the Officer Commanding 8th Hussars:
"Cavalry Camp Hd. Qtrs,
February 3rd 1855.
Sir, With regard to the Court-martial return of the 8th Hussars for January, the Lt. General requests that you will be good enough to explain under what circumstances Corporal Chapman and Sergt. Kavanagh were tried by Regt. Court-martial for "Drunkeness on Duty," a crime not recognisable by a Regimental Court-martial,
I have the honour, etc. etc.,
C. C. Shute. Major. AAG."
Kadikoi,
Feby. 4th 1855.
Sir, I beg to state for the Lt. General's information that Sergeant Kavanagh had received permission to visit the Lt. Cavalry Camp on his own personal business and consequently could not be considered "Drunk on Duty."
The charge against Corpl. Chapman was also made out under the impression that he got drunk before he was dispatched on duty and therefore his crime did not quite come up to being drunk for duty under orders.
I have the honour to be, etc. etc.,
F.G. Shewell, Col.
Officer commanding 8th Hussars.
"Confined" from the 18th and tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 21st of March 1855 for "being drunk on duty" and given 50 lashes.
Invalided from Scutari to England on the 26th of April 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Served at Kotah.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of November 1858.
Discharge & pension
Discharged, "by purchase", in India on the 1st of March 1861. Payment of £25.
Served 9 years 152 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Further detailed medal information archived.
Commemorations
Named as a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 but not in the 1879 revised list.
A newspaper report [unknown source] of his death at the early age of 52 stated that he was "One of the Six Hundred," and had also served during the Mutiny in India.
From his stated age on enlistment his death would have been some time in 1884 and there is no apparent reason why his name does not appear on the 1879 list, if he did indeed take part in the Charge.
Life after service
Death & burial
A man of this name is shown in the St. Catherine's House records as dying at Settle, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, during the July-September Quarter of 1884. Possibly one and the same man.
Death registered
Robert Chapman, aged 52 years, September Quarter 1884, Settle.
In his will he left his personal estate of £150 to his widow, Louisa.
From Mr R.G. Pearson and family, of Wakefield, Yorkshire, comes the following information:
From the Craven Herald, Saturday 16th of August 1884:
"Death of Robert Champion
On Monday last Mr. Robert Champion, of The Green, Upper Settle, was engaged in his business of Mineral Water manufacturer when suddenly, without warning, he fell and expired.
The news of his death was a great shock to the public, by whom he was very generally respected.
Deceased had obtained considerable notoriety from the important part he played in the Crimean War. At that stirring epoch he was a Corporal in the 8th Hussars, being one of the "Gallant Six Hundred."
In addition to taking part in the engagements at Sebastopol, Inkerman, Balaclava and the Alma, he was also on active service in India at the time of the Indian Mutiny.
He had reached the age of 52.
The interment took place on Wednesday at the Parish Church, Giggleswick, and was of a befitting character for one who had served his country so well, being attended with military honours.
A number of men from the Volunteer Force marched in front of the hearse with reversed arms, the Band played the Dead March in "Saul" and following the corpse were most of the professions and trades in the town and district.
Representatives of the Freemasons Lodge (No. 116 Royal Lancashire, Clone), of which he had been a member since 1864, also attended.
The "Dead March" was played in the church by the organist, Mr. M. [?], and at the close of the service a firing party of 16 fired three volleys over the grave and thus closed the final act in the career of a true soldier and patriot."
There is a photograph of his gravestone in the 8th Hussar file.
[Source: EJBA. Photo by EJB or RG Pearson, 1980.]
(Click on image to enlarge)
The memorial stone over his grave consists of a shaped block, surmounted by a small cross, the latter being finished in a simulated wood bark texture and has a carved wreath of leaves and flowers diagonally across the arms.
[At the top portion of the mass.]
"In loving memory of Robert Champion [PB: sic? Chapman?] of Settle. Born May 25th 1832 — Died August 11th 1884."
[Below]
"Late of the 8th Royal Irish Hussars. He was one of the survivors of the celebrated battle of Balaclava.
He served throughout the whole of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, for which he received medals and clasps, (viz.) Sebastopol, Inkerman, Balaclava, Alma and Central India.
[Left hand side (facing)]
"Also of Louisa, Relict of the above Robert Champion [?]. Born February 8th 1830 — Died January 27th 1890."
[Right]
He was a general favourite in the Regiment, and after retiring from the ranks led a civilian life for some years. He quietly passed away, deservedly lamented by his friends.
The wording is of metal lettering inlaid into the stone, but many of the letters are now (1980) beginning to fall out.
References & acknowledgements
Death registrations kindly provided by Chris Poole.
