Born in the parish of St. Sidwell's, Exeter, c.1830.
The parish records of St. Sidwell's, Exeter, show he was baptised there on the 15th of September 1830. His parents were named as George and Maria Gowings, his father being a coach-maker. (Another source states that he was a coach-master.) The family lived in Paris Street, Exeter.
Enlisted at Exeter on the 13th of December 1847.
Age: 18.
Height: 6' 0".
Trade: Sugar-boiler.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Black hair.
He was at the Riding Establishment at the Maidstone Cavalry Depot from the 1st of June 1851 to the 24th of June 1852.
From Private to Corporal: 2nd of October 1852.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 12th of May 1854 for "being absent" on the 6th of May 1854.
Lost two horses under him during the Charge.
He is mentioned in two accounts by Chargers in the Special Balaclava Issue of the Illustrated London News, 30th of October 1875.
817 Robert Grant, 4th Light Dragoons, refers to George Gowings as follows:
"In the early part, a peculiar thing happened. A shot came over the hill and dropped on the neck of the horse of a man named Gowens [sic]. The shot cut off the head as cleanly as with a knife. The horse stood still for a moment, and then dropped. Gowens got on a spare horse running by, and in few minutes this horse's head was also shot clear away.
On being asked if he was hurt, Gowens replied, 'Not a bit of it'."
He is also mentioned in the 1125 Dennis Connor's account.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 9th of January 1855 for "absence and being drunk on the streets of Constantinople." Awarded 10 days' imprisonment with hard labour.
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 22nd of January 1856 for "Resisting Turkish police and damaging two great-coats." Awarded 10 days' imprisonment with hard labour.
His Courts-martial did not seem to affect his promotion chances as he was promoted from Private to Sergeant on the 1st of January 1859.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 24th of July 1861.
Re-engaged for 12 years' further service on the 25th of February 1862.
Promoted to Regimental Sgt-Major on the 1st of August 1867.
Embarked for India aboard the "Serapia" at Portsmouth on the 15th of October 1867.
Invalided to England on the 30th of October 1869.
Discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on the 1st of February 1870:
"Unfit for further service. Has Bright's disease of the kidneys. Is very weak and will be unable to contribute to his own support. Disease is not aggravated by vice or intemperance."
Aged 39 years 10 months on discharge.
Conduct: "very good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges when promoted, but would now have had five,
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Three times tried by Court-martial.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months
In India: 2 years.
To live at McFarlane Place, Devonshire Road, Chiswick, London, after discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Died in London on the 8th of November 1872.
Death registration
The St. Catherine's House records show the death of a George Gowings, aged 43, during the October-December Quarter of 1872 at Uxbridge.
Died at the Middlesex Lunatic Asylum, Norwood, from "Disease of the liver, many years. Pyemia (5 days)", aged 38 years [sic]. He was described as "Head Attendant at Asylum". The informant of his death was the Asylum Medical Officer. (See copy of his death certificate in the "Certificates" file.)
He was buried as "William George Gowings" in Kensington Cemetery, West London, aged 38 years, on the 11th of November 1872. The grave, in the North (of the Chapel) burial ground, is un-marked. No system of plot numbering existed at this time, so the exact position cannot be confirmed. (See photograph of the area in the 4th Hussar file.)
[PB: The "Norwood" in question is in north-west, not south London. The more usual name is Hanwell Pauper and Lunatic Asylum, or St bernard's Hospital.]
A son, Edward A., entered the Royal Military Asylum (also known as The Duke of York's School) at Chelsea on the 24th of November 1878 at the age of 8 years and six months. Both his father and mother, Ann, were shown as "Dead" at this time. He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders on the 8th of July 1882.
Edward Albert Clifford Gowings enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders as No. 347. Born at York, he was said to be 15 years 1 month of age [sic] 5' 4" in height, fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, a "musician" by trade and C. of E. by religion.
Appointed Drummer: 20th of October 1883.
Bandsman (on attaining the age of 18 years): 26th of March 1885.
Shown as a "Deserter" from the 25th of January — 20th of April 1888.
Rejoined the Regiment on the 21st of April and "in confinement" until the 26th.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and convicted of "desertion," by which he lost all of his previous service of 5 years 293 days.
Transferred (as a Private) to the Shropshire Light Infantry on the 22nd of October 1899, with the regimental number of 3120.
Discharged, "by purchase", at Hongkong on the 10th of February 1894, with a payment of £36. (His discharge money was paid by his brother, Frederick William Gowings, then at the Regimental Depot.)
Served 23 days in Egypt, 2 years 74 days in Hongkong, and the remainder, "At Home."
His other son, Frederick William, enlisted into the 2nd Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry from the Royal Military Asylum as No. 1942 on the 13th of March 1886.
Born at Uxbridge, Middlesex, he was 14 years of age, 5' 1" in height, with a fair complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair, and a "Drummer" by profession.
Appointed "Musician" on the 21st of September 1887.
Attained the age of 18 years on the 2nd of March 1890 and reverted to Private (Act. Band) [sic] on the 2nd of August 1890.
Transferred to the Regimental Depot on the 15th of September 1894.
Discharged from Shrewsbury on the 12th of March 1898, "in consequence of the termination of his period of engagement." Conduct and character: "good". All of his service was "at Home".
To live at 26, Mooltan Street, Belgravia, London.
Next of kin: Brother, Edward, serving with the Gordon Highlanders.