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

Added 25.11.12.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1395, Private Richard FISHER — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born in the parish of St. Mary's, Lichfield, c.1829.

1841 Census

Rotton [sic?] Row, Lichfield.

Philip Fisher, 35, Bricklayer.

Mary Fisher, 35.

John Fisher, 20 [sic]

Elizabeth Fisher, 15.

Louisa Fisher, 15.

Richard Fisher, 12.

Harriett Fisher, 10.

Thomas Fisher, 6.

William Fisher, 6.

Philip Fisher, 4.

Alfred Fisher, 5 months.

[PB: Presumably Rotten Row, Lichfield, Staffs? In 2018, the postcode was WS13 6JB.]

Enlistment

Enlisted at Lichfield on the 4th of November 1848.

Age: 19 years 3 months.

Height: 5' 9".

Trade: Bricklayer.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.

"Confined, 15th of August 1855, and tried by a District Court-martial on the 17th of August for "Disgraceful conduct — offering a Government mule for sale..." Awarded 50 lashes and imprisoned until the 12th of September 1855.

Transferred to the 18th Hussars on the 1st of March 1858. Regimental No. 363.

From Private to Corporal: 1st of April 1858.

Re-engaged for 12 years' further service at Aldershot on the 7th of December 1860.

1861 Census

18th Hussars, Aldershot, Surrey.

R. Fisher, Non-Comm Officer, 31, Corporal, born Lichfield.

E. Fisher, 30, Soldiers wife, born Norwich.

[PB: Presumably Elizabeth, as recorded in the 1881 Census.]

From Corporal to Sergeant: 13th of July 1861.

In confinement, 8th-10th of October and reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 11th of October 1864.,

From Private to Corporal: 8th of April 1866.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Canterbury on the 30th of November 1872: "Claimed, on termination of second period of service."

Served 23 years 356 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.

Conduct: "good".

In possession of five Good Conduct badges.

Sixteen times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Twice tried by Court-martial.

Aged 43 years 2 months on discharge.

Awarded a pension of 18d. per day.

Living in the Chatham Pension District from discharge, in Derby from January of 1874 and in Norwich from November of 1875.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Turkish Medal.

Life after service

Said to have become a warder at Maidstone Jail at some time.

1881 Census

Cottage, Colgate Street, Norwich.

Richard Fisher, 50, Chelsea Pensioner, born Lichfield.

Eliza Fisher, 50, born Norwich.

[Postcode 2018 for"Colegate": NR3 1BG etc.]

Death & burial

Death registered

Richard Fisher, aged 56 years, March Quarter 1887, S.Shields.





(Click on image to enlarge)

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1841, 1861 and 1881, death registration, and two press clippings, provided by Chris Poole.


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