LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive
Added 21.10.11. Minor edits 10.4.14. Additional info. 30.6.2021.
Private James GUSTERSON — 1618, 11th Hussars
Birth & early life
Born at Brittlewell [sic] near Rochford, Essex, c.1832.
1851 Census
East Street, Prittlewell, Essex.
William Gusterson, 54, Bricklayer.
Sarah, 56.
Three children shown: Stephen, 23, James, 19, Bricklayer, Gabriel, 15.
Enlistment
Enlisted at Bristol on the 9th of December 1853.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Bricklayer.
Appearance: Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Service
Invalided from Scutari to England on the 1st of January 1855.
Appointed Shoeing-Smith on the 4th of February 1860. By Royal Warrant dated the 4th of February 1860.
1861 Census
Hulme Cavalry Barracks, Chorlton
J. Gusterson, 27, unmarried, Soldier, born Rochford Essex
Re-engaged for a further 12 years service on the 28th of February 1866.
Appointed Farrier (ranking as a Sergeant) on the 18th of June 1866 — by Royal Warrant, dated the 4th of February 1860.
Embarked for India aboard the "Agamemnon" from Tilbury on the 25th of July 1866, arriving at Bombay on the 25th of October.
Imprisoned 31st of March — 2nd of April 1871 and reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 3rd of April 1871.
Discharge & pension
Discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on the 22nd of July 1873, as:
"Unfit for further service — Chronic rheumatism contracted in India and of long standing. Result of constitutional disability from his pre-disposition, but may have been aggravated by long and tropical service. Chiefly affecting the legs and feet. Disability permanent."
Served 19 years 156 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years 24 days. (EJB: This does not agree with the date of his being invalided home.) India, 6 years 237 days.
Eight times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Twice tried by Court-martial.
Imprisoned from the 21st of April — 15th of May 1856.
Imprisoned, by order of the Commanding Officer, 12th-18th June 1861, 7th-8th May 1863 and the 4th-5th April 1864,
Granted a pension of 9d. per day.
To live at 4, West India Road, West India Terrace, Limehouse, London.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Turkish medal.
Commemorations
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
His name was on the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society but not on the 1879 revised list.
Further medal information archived.
Life after service
Death & burial
EJB: A man of this name is shown in the St. Catherine's House registers as dying in the Rochford District during the April-June quarter of 1880, aged 49 years. The similarity of age and the fact that James Gusterson was born in the same district would imply that they are almost certainly one and the same man. (See notes below.)
Death registered
James Gusterson, aged 49 years, June Quarter 1880, Rochford.
From the Southend Standard, 11th of June 1880:
"Many of our readers will know the object of our obituary notice — James Gusterson of the 11th Hussars, who died on the 8th inst. Deceased was wounded in the Crimea, and enjoyed a small pension for services rendered to his country. Lately he had been employed by Mr. Sewell, the coal merchant, of Alexander Street, but was compelled to give up work totally on account of his failing health. He leaves a wife and four children who are totally unprovided for."
From the Southend Standard, 18th of June 1880:
"Funeral of a Balaclava Hero. — On Sunday last the remains of James Gusterson, whose death we referred to last week, were interred in Prittlewell Churchyard (St. Mary's) the ceremony being performed by the Revd. O.T. Reay. Deceased was one of the few remaining survivors of the "Noble Six Hundred" and he was accordingly honoured by a military funeral, being borne to the grave by eight soldiers from the School of Gunnery from Shoeburyness, and followed by an escort numbering sixteen men. There was also a large following of many of his old friends and relatives. The funeral arrangements were superintended by Mr. E. Woodhams, of South Street, to whom great credit is due. Some hundreds of spectators lined the route taken by the cortege."
Further information
Lot 100
Date of Auction: 23rd June 2021
Sold for £6,500
Estimate: £3,000 — £3,600
Pair: Private James Gusterson, 11th Hussars, a confirmed charger in the Light Brigade at Balaklava
Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (No. 1618. James. Gusterson. XIth P.A.O. [Hussa]rs.) regimentally impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1618 James Gusterson XI PAO Hussars) regimentally impressed naming, fitted with swivel-ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine (2) £3,000- £3,600
Footnote
James Gusterson enlisted into the 11th Hussars in London on 8 December 1853, aged 20. For a time during 1855 he was the camp cook. He was in confinement from 18 January to 31 March 1856, and was discharged as unfit on 22 July 1873. He is confirmed as a 'charger' by all the main authorities and is additionally listed on the Balaklava Society members lists of 1875 and 1877 but not on the revised 1879 list. He died on 8 June 1880.
[Dix Noonan Webb: James Gusterson, 11th Hussars]
(Click on images to enlarge)
References & acknowledgements
Census information for 1851 and 1861, and death registration, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
I am grateful to Tony Margrave for alerting us to JG's medals at a DNW auction, 23 June 2021.