Celebratory scene. (Survivors of the Charge saluting George V in the Strand, June 1911). Archibald Standish Hartrick (1864 — 1950), Lithograph. As seen at a Barneby's auction, 21.2.2017.

"A S Hartrick Celebratory scene. Lithograph. The characters portrayed are the remnants of the Charge of the Light Brigade saluting the King George V on the occasion of his Coronation on the Strand in June 1911. This was published in "The Daily Chronicle" the next day."

[Source and further information: /furtherinfo/artists/hartrick_A/hartrick_A.html]

(Click on image to enlarge)

WF's portrait (and account of the charge) appeared among 14 surviving Chargers ("All that was left of them") as a supplement in the magazine Answers week ending 26th of October 1912. (See copy in the 8th Hussar file.)

[PB: Locate this in the archive, and transcribe. There is a reference to a photocopy in the NAM:

Photocopy of 'Answers' supplement, 26 October 1912 (c) and photocopy of newspaper article, 1913; associated with James Olley and the 8th Hussars, 4th Queens Own Light Dragoons, 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Light Dragoons (Lancers) and 11th (Prince Alberts) Hussars; associated with the Charge of the Light Brigade, Crimean War (1854-1856). Archives 2004-03-24

"All that was left of them", Supplement to Answers, "week ending October 26th 1912". (Note: the list excludes officers still alive at this time.)

[Source: Scan provided by Craig Hamilton of the original page "held by my mother's family, the Fultons. Family belief was that WSJ Fulton was a relative of ours" (see below). Notice WF's photograph is outlined in red, and annotated "8th HUSSARS No. 1153". The original has been much-folded.]

(Click on image to enlarge)

Towards the end of his life, by which time there were very few survivors of the Charge, WF was feted throughout the world, as shown in this item from Sydney, Australia (1913):

(Click on image to enlarge)

FIFTEEN BALACLAVA SURVIVORS

Reduced by one by the recent death of Lord Tredegar, the following are now the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade:

Sir George Wombwell, 17th Lancers.
Major Phillips [8th Hussars]
Alderman Kilvert, 8th Hussars [actually, 11th Hussars]
J Mustard, 17th Lancers
T. Boxall, 4th Hussars [formerly 4th Light Dragoons]
J. Whitehead, 4th Hussars [formerly 4th Light Dragoons]
H. Wilsden, 4th Hussars [formerly 4th Light Dragoons]
J. Olley, 4th Hussars [formerly 4th Light Dragoons]
W.S.J. Fulton, 8th Hussars
J. Parkinson, 11th Hussars
T. Warr, 11th Hussars
G. Gibson, 13th Hussars [formerly 13th Light Dragoons]
E. Hughes, 13th Hussars [formerly 13th Light Dragoons]
W. Ellis, 11th Hussars
W.H. Pennington, 8th Hussars [actually, 11th Hussars]

[Source: Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW), 20 April 1913 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/126459695 (accessed 15.2.2014) [PB].]

Life after service

[Various census and other references listed: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=william&gsfn_x=NP_NN_NIC&gsln=fulton&gsln_x=NP_NN_NS&msypn__ftp=devon&msbdy=1831&cpxt=1&cp=4&catbucket=rstp&MSAV=1&uidh=1se&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=5600744&dbid=7619&indiv=1&ml_rpos=2 (accessed 31.7.2017). Follow up and add below.]

Children born to W & E Fulton

- Elizabeth J.[?] Fulton, born St James Ward [?], Middlesex, c.1860 [1861 Census, but not with the family on later censuses].

- John W Fulton, born St James's Middlesex, c.1863 [1871, 1881].

- James A Fulton, born Tottenhall [?], Staffordshire, c.1865 [1871, 1881].

- Eliza Fulton, born Brixton, Surrey, c.1867 [1871, 1881, 1891].

- Isabelle Fulton, born Brixton, Surrey, 1870 [1871, not 1881 or later].

- Archibald R Fulton, born c.1874, place? [1881, 1891].

- Mary M Fulton, born c.1874, place? [1891 but not 1881].




[PB: Did Elizabeth die young? Were Mary and Isabelle away from home in 1881?]

(Click on image to enlarge)

1861 Census

50, Regent Street, Westminster St James, Middlesex.

William S.J. Fulton, Head, Married, 30, Messenger County J [?F] Officer, born Devonport, Devon.

Eliza Fulton, Wife, Married, 22, Limehouse.

Elizabeth J.[?] Fulton, Daughter, Unmarried, 1, St James Ward [?], Middlesex.

There were 9 other inhabitants, in 2 households. One man had the same occupation as WF.

[Source: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=uki1861&h=329598&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=7619]

(Click on image to enlarge)

1871 Census

5, Brighton Terrace, Brixton.

William Fulton, 40, Outpatient Chelsea Hospital (out of employment), born Devonort, Devon, wounded in right arm at Balaklava.

Eliza Fulton, 32, Outpensioner's wife, Limehouse, Middlesex.

John W Fulton, 8, Scholar, St James's Middddlesex.

James A Fulton, 6, Scholar, Tottenhall [?], Staffordshire.

Eliza Fulton, 4, Scholar, Brixton, Surrey.

Isabelle Fulton, 1, Brixton, Surrey.

[Enumerator's note in margin: "House unoccupied on first visit"). It appears the Fulton family were sharing the house with Charles Hedgecock, 32, a Carman, and his wife and four young children.]

[Source: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=uki1871&h=5600744&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=8767]

Brixton: Junction of Brighton Terrace and Brixton Road.

(Click on image to enlarge)

1881 Census (Scotland)

2, Salisbury Square, Edinburgh

William S I Fulton, 50, Chelsea Pensioner (8th Hussars).

Eliza Fulton, 42, Pensioners Wife.

John W Fulton, 18, School Teacher.

James A Fulton, 16, Printer (Compositor).

Eliza Fulton, Scholar, 14.

Archibald R Fulton, Scholar, 7.

According to the 1881 Census WF was aged 50, a Chelsea Pensioner (8th Hussars), born in England, his wife, Eliza, 42, a Pensioner's Wife, also born in England, with three children (three boys and a girl).

The eldest, James [John?] William, 18, was a Schoolmaster, James A., 16, a Printer (Compositor), and the two youngest were Scholars.

[Source: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1881Scotland&h=1966340&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=7619. Images are not available for Scottish Census forms so we have to rely on the transcription, which may not be accurate.]

1891 Census (Scotland)

2, Salisbury Square, Edinburgh.

William S.J. Fulton, 60, "Claiming" Title & Entailed Eatalie [presumably Estate] of Eglintoune [also recorded as Eglinton] etc.

Eliza Fulton, 52.

Eliza Fulton, 33, Compositor.

Archibald R Fulton, 26, Hatter & Hoster [?].

Mary M Fulton, 17, Milliner.

[Source: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1891Scotland&h=1919329&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=1119.]

1901 Census (Scotland)

368, Morningside Rd, Edinburgh.

William L Fulton, 69, Annuitant.

Eliza Fulton, 61.

Eliza Fulton, 23, Printer — Compositoress [sic?].

Archibald R Fulton, 16, Hatter's Clerk & Shopman.

Mary M Fulton, 7, Scholar.

[Source: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1901Scotland&h=4195172&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=1108]

Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925

William Stephen John Fulton

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=RoyalChelseaDischarges&h=712042&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=EHe4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&rhSource=7619

Death & burial

William Fulton was buried in the Morningside Cemetery, Belhaven Terrace, Edinburgh. No headstone was erected, although it was a purchased plot.

There are two other interments in the same grave: Elizabeth Menden (or Fulton [?]) aged 66, on the 29th of October 1903, and Montgomery Archibald Fulton, aged 56, on the 7th of October 1930. These are almost certainly his wife and youngest son.

Scotsman, 30 March 1918.

(Click on image to enlarge)

The article above is very similar to the one in the Weekly Scotsman, Saturday 6th of April 1918 (except that it states he had three daughters, not two):

Light Brigade Veteran — A Military Funeral

There passed away at No. 368 Morningside Road, on the 29th inst., a Crimean veteran in the person of Mr. Willliam Stephen John Fulton, D.C.M., who took part in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade and was a member of a family which claims a record of 150 years in unbroken service to the Crown.

Mr. Fulton, who was born in Devonport, was in his 88th year and enlisted when he was 19 into the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. He was one of the survivors of the historic Charge of the Light Brigade, in which he was severely wounded, and it is interesting to note that it was due to the unceasing care of Miss Florence Nightingale that he owed his life.

He was the first patient of the "Lady with the Lamp", at the Scutari Hospital and he possessed two treasured mementoes given to him by that noble woman.

He had the Queen's medal with the clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, the Turkish medal and the Distinguished Conduct in the Field Medal...

A Patriotic Ancestry

Mr. Fulton could boast a patriotic ancestry. His father, Thomas Fulton, who fought in the American War of 1814, is said to have created the post of Colour-Sergeant in the British Army by having, although wounded in both legs, saved from the enemy the ensign which fell from a stricken officer's hands.

His brother, who was in the 88th Foot, was killed in South Africa in 1835 and his uncle gave 26 years' service with the navy. His grand-father, James Fulton, who was born in Ayshire in 1780, went to the wars when in the Royal Marines, and he spent over 20 years in the dreary fortresses of France.

An interesting claim is made by the family in that James Fulton's father was substitute heir to and the younger brother of Archbald [sic], 11th Earl of Eglintoune, who was a one time Governor of Edinburgh Castle. The veteran, whose stirring career is now closed, is survived by two daughters and two sons, one of whom fought in the Boer War, and another is a Major in a Scottish regiment."

Further information

Experiences in the Charge, and the death of Lieut. Fizgibbon

In 1877 William Fulton wrote a brief account of the Charge in connection with the possibility that Lieutenant John Fitzgibbon, 8th Hussars --> had not been killed in the Charge, but had survived, been imprisoned and exiled to Siberia but had escaped and was now on his way back to England — a popular rumour at that time:

[PB: The article says "in a Dublin newspaper", though his letter says he was then living in Edinburgh. Can we find?]

Dundee Courier, Monday 22 October 1877:

<

Dundee Courier, Monday 22 October 1877 (replicated Tuesday 23 October 1877).

(Click on image to enlarge)

THE FATE OF VISCOUNT FITZGIBBON

A few days ago we printed a singular rumour that the late Viscount Fitzgibbon, that gallant cavalry officer who was supposed to have fallen in the celebrated charge of the Six Hundred at Balaclava, did not meet tho fate which was really believed, but, on the contrary, he is having completed a term of exile in Siberia. In reference to this report a Dublin newspaper has received the following:

"Sir, — I observe from the newspapers a statement to the effect that Viscount Fitzgibbon, the only son of the Earl of Clare, a lieutenant in C troop of the Bth Hussars, and one of the Six Hundred who took part in the Balaclava charge, is now returning from Siberia.

It may interest your readers to know that I can prove that Lord Fitzgibbon was one of the Six Hundred, and was shot alongside of me, and was never heard of afterwards.

I recollect that the morning morning before the Balaclava Charge he gave every man of his troop a pound of tobacco.

Just before going into action I happened to go in front of the line some distance, when Lieutenant Fitzgibbon and Sergeant-Major Maclure were sent by Colonel Sewell to bring me back, as he thought I was in danger.

On going into the charge, Denis Haneran of C troop [939 Sergeant Denis Hanrahan, 8th Hussars], was shot on my right, and fell over his horse, his left spur striking the horse of Lord Fitzgibbon, and making it rear heavily. I was forced into the second rank, and almost immediately afterwards Lord Fitzgibbon was shot.

If he is alive and in London on the 25th October, I shall be glad to see him at the Balaclava banquet, to be held at the Freemasons' Tavern. — W.S.J. Fulton, late private C troop, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. 2 Salisbury Square, Edinburgh.".

[Source: http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000269/18771022/025/0003

Southern Reporter, Thursday 25 October 1877:

Southern Reporter, Thursday 25 October 1877.

(Click on image to enlarge)

A SINGULAR HUMOUR.

A Dublin newspaper contains the following: "A singular rumour has gained considerable currency that the late Viscount Fitzgibbon, that gallant cavalry officer who was supposed to have fallen in the celebrated Charge of the Six Hundred Balaclava, did not meet that fate which was really believed, but, the contrary, is this moment on his way home to claim his estates. It was never ascertained whether the Viscount was really killed or not, the fact of his never having been beard of since being the only one that removed almost any doubt to his fatal end.

It is now stated that when last seen he was leaning, apparently wounded, on his horse, that he was taken prisoner the Russians, and shortly after, for some insult alleged to have been given a Russian officer, was transported Siberia, from whence, his term of exile having expired, is returning to Ireland. A statue of him adorns the Wellesley Bridge, Limerick.

In reference to the above, we have received the following:

"Sir, — I observe from the newspapers a statement to the effect that Viscount Fitzgibbon. the only son of the Earl of Clare, lieutenant in troop of the Hussars, and one of the Six Hundred who took part in the Balaclava Charge, is now returning from Siberia. It may interest your readers to know that I can prove that Lord Fitzgibbon was one of the Six Hundred and was shot alongside of me, and was never heard of afterwards. I recollect that the morning before the Balaclava Charge he gave every man of his troop a pound of tobacco. Just before going into action I happpened to in front of the line some distance when Lieutenant Fitzgibbon and Sergeant-Major Maclure were sent by Colonel Sewell to bring me back, as he thought I was in danger. On going into the charge, Denis Haneran [Hanrahan], of C Troop, was shot on my right, and he fell over his horse, his left spur striking the horse of Lord Fitzgibbon, making it rear heavily. I was forced into the second rank, and almost immediately afterwards Lord Fitzgibbon was shot. If he is alive and in London on the 20th ()ctoher, I shall be glad to see him at the Balaclava banquet, to be held at the Freemasons' Tavern. W. S. J. Fulton, late private C Troop, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 2 Salisbury Square, Edinburgh."

[Source: Southern Reporter, Thursday 25 October 1877 (http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000469/18771025/130/0004).]

[PB: Notice that Fitzgibbon is said to be returning home "to claim his estates". Since WF was already at this time engaged in his suit to claim the title and estate of Lord Eglinton, was he perhaps particularly interested in Lieut. Fitzgibbon, whose title had become extinct by his death in the Charge and whose possessions were transferred elsewhere? Remember also it is the time of the notorious Tichbourne Claimant case. Wikipedia; Tichborne case.]

Enquiry of the Scottish United Services Museum shows that WF's group of medals were donated to the Museum in 1963. Nothing else regarding them is forthcoming, no apparent other details being taken at the time, and further enquiry of the donor has (in 1984) failed to elicit any response.

The Museum authorities also feel that the claim of his father being the first to bear the title of Colour-Sergeant in the British Army is somewhat apocryphal. To quote the wording of the Order made at the time:

"On the 27th of July 1813 the Secretary of State wrote to all officers commanding regiments of Foot to the following effect: 'His Royal Highness has also been pleased to order, that from the same date (25th of June 1813) one sergeant of each establishment in each company of the said regiments shall be designated "Colour-Sergeant", and that his pay shall be raised to two shillings and four pence per diem.'"

Another point commented upon [by the Scottish Unted Services Museum, above] was the question of WF's great-grandfather being the younger son of "Archibald, 11th Earl of Eg----- ".

"The only Earl starting with a name like that is the Earl of Eglinton — and the 11th Earl was certainly the Governor of Dunbarton Castle, but the family name is Montgomery."

Not commented upon were the names 'Archibald' and 'Montgomery' given to a member of his [WF's] greater family.

The Eglinton claim

[PB: The following needs completion and a rewrite.]

How intriguing. Who was EJB thinking about when he said the names 'Archibald' and 'Montgomery' were given to a member of WF's greater family?

Presumably the "Montgomery Archibald" on WF's headstone, who EJB calls WF's youngest son? If he died aged 56 in 1930, he was born 1874. But he is called Archibald R. Fulton in 1881. Did he formally or informally adopt the name "Mongomery" later in life? Was Mary M's middle name Mongomery?

Notice also the comment in the 1891 Census, that WF's occupation is listed as: "'Claiming' Title & Entailed [Estate] of Eglintoune [Eglinton] etc.' How curious. (Incidentally, Thomas Hardy's novel [about the pursuit of forgotten lineage], Tess of the D'Urbervilles, was first published in serial form in 1891.)

Are there any other references to be found? NB Montgomery is usually spelt "Montgomerie".]

• Wikipedia: Earl of Eglinton.

• Check Burke's Peerage e.g. 1879

For transcriptions of the articles below, go to The Eglinton Claim.

Cheshire Observer, 30 October 1875

(Click on image to enlarge)

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 4 November 1882.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Dundee Courier, 30 September 1884

(Click on image to enlarge)

Edinburgh Evening News, 25 March 1886.

(Click on image to enlarge)

William Fulton, "claimant to the Earl of Eglintoune's estates", receives £30 from the Light Brigade Fund (Dundee Advertiser, 30 August 1890).

"THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. On Thursday Mr W.G.S.Fulton (claimant to the Earl of Eglintoune's estates) received a cheque for £30, as his share of the special Light Brigade Fund. Mr Fulton was wounded upon retiring from the famous charge and was presented with a medal for distinguished services on the occasion."

(Click on image to enlarge)

Scotsman, 30 March 1918.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Dundee Courier, 17 September 1920.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Roy Dutton, p.99

(Click on image to enlarge)

References & acknowledgements

In July 2017, Craig Hamilton emailed the EJBA with a scan of an original page of "All that was left of them" held "by my mother's family, the Fultons. Family belief was that WSJ Fulton was a relative of ours. Beyond this belief I have no proof that we are indeed related to him. Hopefully one day I will have the time to do some research." We are grateful to him for allowing us to use the scan on this site.