906, Private Abraham GIBBONS — 13th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born at Hurley, near Manchester, c.1817.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Queen's Square, London, on the 3rd of November 1837.

Age: 20.

Height: 5' 9".

Trade: Servant.

Fair complexion. Hazel eyes. Sandy hair.

Service

1851 Census

Piershill Barracks, Leith South, Midlothian

Abram [sic] Gibbons, 34, Private soldier, born Maidenhead [sic], England

Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854, to Malta on the 16th of December 1854, and invalided to England on the 23rd of February 1855.

[PB: Notice he was sent to Scutari the day after the Charge of Light Brigade (25th October), but was not awarded the clasp for Balaclava i.e. the assumption is that he did not charge.

1861 Census

Piershill Barracks, Leith South, Midlothian

A. Gibbons, 43, Private 13th Light Dragoons, born England.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Manchester on the 18th of November 1861, "At his own request, after 24 years service."

Conduct: "good".

In possession of three Good Conduct badges.

Aged 44 years on discharge.

Awarded a pension of 11d. per day.

Medals

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal and the Long Service & Good Conduct medal.

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

He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.

The distribution of Crimean Medals on Horse Guards Parade, 18th of May 1855. Painting by Sir John Tenniel.

His name appears on the Nominal Return of those present now in the PRO, also on a similar roll which appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 and on that which appeared in the Illustrated London News of the 26th of May 1855.

Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct on the 14 April 1859 with a gratuity of £5.

Three medals were sent to a Mr. Pennington (the responsible official at the War Office.)on the 7th of May 1862. No reason was shown for this, but the Pension Book states, 3 medals sent to next of kin — Brother, and also his "arrears of pension".

Commemorations

Life after service

Death & burial

Died in the No 1 London Pension District on the 7th of April 1862.

Death registered

Abraham Gibbons, June Quarter 1862, Farnham.

References & acknowledgements

Death registration and Census information for 1851 and 1861 kindly provided by Chris Poole.