Born c.1827. Born in Dublin [according to army records?].
[RM: the 1851 Census shows him as born at Bath, Somerset.]
[PB: A John Dyke, aged 14, was living in Corfe, Somerset, in 1841. Corfe, just south of Taunton, is about 50 miles from Bath.]
1841 Census
Parkhouse [?], Corfe, Somerset
John Dyke, 14, Agricultural Labourer, born Somerset. He was living in the home of Henry Burford, 20, his wife Elizabeth, 25, and two young children, and James Burford, 25. Both men were Agricultural Labourers. [PB]
Enlisted at Liverpool on the 21st of May 1846.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 8.
Trade: None shown.
1851 Census
Cavalry Barracks, Pockthorpe, Norfolk
John Dyke, Soldier, Unmarried, 24, Private, born Bath, Somerset.
Appointed Farrier-Major from Private on the 7th of November 1855.
Sent money from the Crimea to a Miss Sarah Ann Fentiman.
[PB: A Sarah Ann Fentiman, aged 23, was living in York, St Andrew, in 1851. Although her surname was "Taylor" at this time, she is shown as the widowed daughter of James, 45, and Ann Fentiman, 44. James was a Tailor. All the household were born in York. I wondered whether they had met there, but the 11th Hussars had not been at York since the Chartist unrest of 1842-3, before John Dyke enlisted.]
Died at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, on the 7th of September 1864.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
His death certificate shows that he died at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, of "Tubercular consumption, 97 days". He was shown as a bachelor, aged 37 years, a Farrier-Major in the 11th Hussars. (There is a copy of his death certificate in the "Certificates" file). He had only 2/- in his "credits".
He was buried in Grave No. B60-194 in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. No headstone was erected. (There is a photograph of his gravesite in the 11th Hussar file.)
At Balaclava, John Dyke rode the horse known as "Old Bob", which died at the age of 34 at Cahir Barracks, Cork, on the 9th of November 1862. [PB: sic? This would have made him a very old 26 at Balaclava.] (See report of this which appeared in "The Times". [TRANSCRIBE]) There was a memorial placed on the wall of the Barracks, and when these were demolished, a Mr. John Burke, an antique dealer, purchased the stone, which was later erected on his premises. Known to be still there in 1973, but by 1991 it had been purchased and brought to England, where it is now in the Museum of the Royal Hussars.
(There is a photograph of the memorial to "Old Bob" as it was soon after its re-erection, in the 11th Hussar file.)
In a letter to The Field (unknown date), a Captain Fielden stated that he was in possession of a mounted hoof, complete with shoe, that had been given to a colleague by an old employee who had been a Sergeant-Major in the Inniskillings.
"The Sergeant Major had died circa 1925, aged about 75 years. At the time of giving this he said that it had belonged to "Old Bob", the Crimean veteran. Moore had joined the cavalry as a boy, and had been on parade when the old horse's death had been announced. Moore also said that the Colonel, junior subaltern, the R.S.M. and the youngest ranker on parade were given the hooves in remembrance. The Sergeant Major had treasured the relic because he had no next-of-kin. My friend, before he died, gave it to me for the same reason."
The following appeared as an article (entitled "Boxer") in the Regimental Journal of the 11th Hussars in 1910:
"The origin of the following interesting account cannot, unfortunately be traced and the only memory of him in the Regiment at the present time is a distinctly good painting of him which now ornaments the walls of the Serjeant's Mess. There can be hardly any doubt that he went to the Crimea with the Regiment, and also that he returned with them, or rather what was left of them, and in his portrait is depicted wearing his medals and the shabraque later referred to. He appears to have been a cross between an Irish or Welsh terrier, and an Airdale, with possibly a bar sinister on either side."
[There is a copy of this portrait in the 11th Hussar file.]
[PB/CBJ: The following account has now been traced, appearing in the Otago Witness (New Zealand), Issue 1967, 1st August 1889, p.39 "An army dog".]
"'When I joined the 11th Hussars', said an old and much esteemed comrade of mine, 'I underwent the usual course of drill in England just as the Crimean War commenced and it then being too late to go out with the regiment, I, with several others, formed the party for the first draft from the Depot to the seat of war. On the journey to the port of embarkation a rough long-haired half-starved dog, encouraged by the kindly nature and notice of the soldiers, joined our party at once, and accompanied us to the battle-field, but unlike his soldier friends he was free to choose his own regiment, they had chosen theirs when in England and were despatched accordingly.
Our unceremonious volunteer, knowing his own merits, evidently considered himself worthy of joining a royal corps so chose Prince Albert's Own Hussars. Boxer was soon in favour with his military companions, for he was a noble-hearted fellow and wherever danger appeared and the 11th Hussars were required, Boxer was sure to be found at his post amongst them, although he could never be relied on to keep in the ranks. His greatest delight was to be with a private in the barrack-rooms — or in a tent — he felt at home there. On the battlefield he took up his post in front of the Regiment; When the troops galloped, Boxer galloped, when the troops walked, Boxer walked; and even in that sad charge at Balaclava, [sic] Boxer never quitted his post, but sped on in the charge which proved so fatal to so many of his friends; but he came through it all without any harm.
So far, my friend, I was in the regiment for some time before I saw anything of this noble dog, although I heard constantly of his wonderful sagacity. When the regiment returned home, Boxer had no post of danger to fill, but he being, as I suspect, a dog of a very active mind, now took up his place in the guard-room, a place that was most alive night and day, men always being under arms, the noise and bustle of which was to him evidently pleasing. The first place where this fine dog was brought especially to my notice was at Nottingham.
The troops were parading for Divine Service one Sunday morning about the middle of September 1859 when Boxer made his appearance dressed in a very nice regimental shabraque, made on purpose to fit him; with his two Crimean medals and clasps of honour he looked just like an aged battle-scarred warrior. Our church was some distance through the town from the barracks and had a crier gone forth to proclaim the news that some mighty old warrior, bearing the laurels that he had won on the field of battle, was about to march through the fine old streets, more people could not have crowded into them to see our hero, Boxer, march to church at the head of his regiment. But alas for poor Boxer, he could not leave the town of Nottingham as he entered it — for his two fine medals were stolen from him.
On one occasion I had a very heavy day at the Curragh Camp, and my turn for guard duty was on that same night. I was posted on a forage post, to take charge of hay, straw, etc, I was deep in meditation, when I was startled by the appearance of Boxer, who, when he found that I was awake and received his customary pat, then went on to the next sentry. I hardly had time to collect my thoughts before the officer-in-charge made his appearance around the corner of one of the haystacks. I must add here that Boxer never usually barked unless he found the soldier sleeping. I heard of a man at Manchester, who in 1860, not only went to sleep, but also had a nightmare. He was perfectly sensible to the fact that he had it, that he was sleeping at his post, that a Sergeant-Major Hurst, (since dead) was coming towards him; that he know the disgrace of his position; that he knew that a court-martial must be the result. Boxer came and stood before him and on his not receiving the customary pat or kind word, gave a slight bark and rubbed against his legs; instantly he was awake, but only just in time to give the challenge.
The Farrier-Major of the regiment took a very special interest in the dog; so great that the dog was considered to be his property. We left for Dublin, and there the Farrier-Major was taken ill, he gradually got worse, till all hope of his recovery was gone. Boxer had been noticed going round the barracks in a very despondent state for some days past and one night he was heard making a horrible noise near the hospital, but no further notice was taken of it. The next morning we heard that Boxer had only survived his master's death by a few hours, for he was found dead in one on the stables belonging to the infirmary, that same morning.'"
In late 1992 a Crimean medal without clasps was seen in the stock of a London medal dealer and then said to have been sent from a West Country collection for auction. The naming was in "engraved uneven capitals" to "Dog Boxer. X1 P.A.O. Hussars." The picture in the Sgt's Mess, although not very clear, appears to have all four clasps, apparently a foliage type suspension and is accompanied by two other medals, one of which is almost certainly the Turkish Crimean medal with a bar suspension, and the other could be a French Medaille Militaire.
In 1995 an article appeared in the Crimean War Research Society Journal in which the author stated that the two medals he had been researching were "A rather battered Crimean medal without clasps, suspended from an original worn ribbon with a simple silver buckle as worn by the veteran. It is depot or regimentally impressed with the rank, name and unit, the actual naming being as follows; "DOG BOXER, XI P.A.O. HUSSARS." The Turkish medal is not named and hangs from the rather "chewed" remnants of an ancient piece of ribbon." These medals described as before were known to be in an Australian collection in 1997.
[RM: See photograph of Dyke and Boxer as part of a group taken at Island Bridge Barracks 1861 (original in Royal Hussars Museum) in 11th Hussars file. See also article in Irish Sunday Independent 21st November 2004 about Dyke and Bob.]
AN INTERESTING TRIO REVISITED
By Glenn Fisher
War Correspondent [ref]
[Photograph]
Farrier-Major 1265 John Dyke
The figure seated in the folding chair has his right sleeve towards the camera. It is possible to see the horseshoe surmounted by the Guelphic crown indicating the rank of Farrier-Major. Had the photograph been tinted his overalls would have been the cherry colour of the 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars. The caption under the original image stated the venue as 'lsland Bridge' 1861. This information enables the identity of the figure to be revealed. He is Farrier-Major 1265 John Dyke, one of the Light Brigade.
He looks thin and somewhat frail and was dead within three years from the time of this group photograph.
He was born in Dublin around March 1826 and enlisted into the 11th Hussars in Liverpool District on 29'h May 1846 aged twenty years and two months. He was recorded as being just over 5'7" tall and received a bounty of five pounds, five shillings and sixpence. He appears to have enjoyed an uneventful first few years as a soldier and kept out of trouble. The muster books for the regiment record two spells in the regimental hospital in March and April 1850 and the award of a good conduct stripe on 30 May 1851. From August of that year until March of 1852 he was quartered in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
He sailed for the Crimea in May 1854. Having survived the voyage and the cholera that decimated many of the regiments as they camped at Varna and Devna, John Dyke arrived in the Crimea with his regiment With the rest of the Light Cavalry brigade he witnessed the Battle of the Alma. He charged with the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava and also stood under fire with the regiment at the Battle of lnkerman.
John Dyke was promoted from private to Farrier-Major on 7th November 1855. The predecessor to this post was 644 Charles Avison. The rigors of campaign life had told on the 46-year-old Yorkshireman and he was invalided back to England. From Private to Farrier-Major was quite a step up and Dyke's pay increased accordingly.
'Crimean Bob'
Many of the officers went on campaign with their own 'chargers'.
These were well bred and high quality horses and a cut above the 'trooper' that was ridden by the other ranks. In the homes of many of the officers' descendants today are paintings and photographs of chargers, especially the ones ridden on campaign. Troop horses seldom receive such attention unless there is an unusual story that lends them celebrity. Such was the case for John Dyke's horse during the Crimean War.
'Bob' started his career as a military horse on 22 October 1833 when he was made a troop horse with the 15th Hussars. When this regiment embarked for service in India he was transferred to the 14th Light Dragoons and then to the 11th Hussars. Not only did Bob survive the battles of the war including the Light Cavalry charge of 25th October 1854, but was blessed with an astonishingly durable constitution. According to the regimental history Bob was never on the list of sick horses at a time when the cavalry mounts were starving and dropping dead in the lines.
When the 11th returned from the war Bob was shown to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Commander in Chief of the Army. The Duke ordered that Bob was not to be 'cast' but retained in the regiment for the rest of his days. The old horse was spared from the knackers yard and enjoyed the care and attention he deserved until he died on Sunday 9th November 1862 at the Cavalry Barracks, Cahir, Ireland. 'Crimean Bob' as he was known was the oldest horse in the British Cavalry and was buried with military honours and an inscribed tombstone was erected to mark his final resting place. It read
[Photograph]
Tombstone of Crimean Bob
'Sacred to the Memory of Crimean Bob, an old troop horse of the XI Hussars.'
His death was also mentioned in the United Services Gazette of November 1862.
Old 'Boxer'
Also in the group photograph is a little Terrier dog wearing an especially made regimental cover, complete with medals. A portrait of old 'Boxer' is still in the possession of the descendant regiment. His medals were stolen during a service in St. Paul's Church Nottingham, much to the fury of G troop of the regiment who were present in the church at the time. The dog had survived the Crimean War and was well loved by all, especially those tasked to stand sentry.
On the approach of the Orderly Officer, 'Boxer' would turn out and alert the sentries that the officer was doing the rounds. The welfare of 'Boxer' was one of the concerns of Farrier-Major Dyke, along with that of 'Crimean Bob'.
A year after the photograph was taken saw the death of the horse. John Dyke died of Tuberculosis on 6th September 1864 and 'Boxer' died a few hours afterwards.
In a letter, entitled 'An Interesting Trio,' written in October 1910 to the editor of the 11th Hussars Journal, by F. Lipop, who joined the regiment in 1858, the link between the three main characters of article was described. It was also suggested that the longevity of both horse and dog was 'due to the careful ministration and oversight of the Farrier-Major and the Pharmacy'.
Sources
XI Hussars Journal, October 1910.
XI Hussars muster books in W012.
General Register Office of Ireland Historical Records of the Eleventh Hussars. G.T. Williams, London I908.
1851 Census returns.
Photograph of Crimean Bob's Memorial and painting of Boxer the dog courtesy of Roy Mills and the Light Brigade Archive of James Boys.
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