Born at Woodburn, near Bellingham, Northumberland, c.1836.
Enlisted at Manchester on the 17th of January 1844.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Cart-wright.
Fair complexion. Blue eyes. Lt. brown hair.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Wilson Kennedy" on the 2nd of May 1854.
Discharged, "invalided", from Dundalk on the 24th of November 1856. "Reason for discharge — Has Syphilis consecteva."
Served 12 years 331 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "Indifferent." Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Aged 32 years on discharge.
Granted a pension of 6d. per day for three years, "final."
Intended to live at Ellington, Northumberland.
Awarded a special "Campaign Pension" of 9d. per day on the 12th of July 1892.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
There is no trace of his ever belonging to the Balaclava Commemoration Society or of ever attending any of the veterans' functions.
1881 Census
Ellington Farm, Ellington, Northumberland
William Hallowell, Cartwright, aged 56, born at Ellington, with his wife, Ellen, 52, born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and three children: two sons and a daughter. The eldest, William, 16, was also a Cartwright.
In May 1989 medals named to him were offered in a Sotheby's auction. Also included with the lot were the recipient's original discharge certificate, signed by Lt. Colonel De Salis, a photograph of him in civilian clothes (there is a copy of this photo in the 8th Hussar file), and the statement that "a family source states that it has long been accepted that Private Hallowell took part in the famous charge".
There was also a contemporary newspaper obituary cutting, stating that:
"whilst cholera was raging in Turkey, Hallowell volunteered as a nurse to look after his fellow troopers and shortly afterwards shared in the privations and hardships of the Crimean campaign and on many important occasions he carried despatches for his commanding officer..."
EJB: On its being learnt that the pair was un-sold, application was made to the auctioneers asking if they would forward a letter to the vendor (said to be from his greater family) and asking if, whilst possible purchase was not considered, whether they would be good enough to provide the date and place of William Hallowell's death. Despite this being done, and a separate letter sent later from Sotheby's as to bona-fides, no reply was ever received.
According to Kelly's County Directory for 1890 he was in business as a wheelwright at Ellington, Northumberland.
The death of a man of this name, aged 74 years, is shown in the St. Catherine's House records for the Morpeth District of Northumberland during the April-June Quarter of 1899. (This was the registration district for Widdrington, where he is said to have been buried, and the age fits).
Extracts from the Morpeth Herald and Reporter, 3rd of June 1899:
"Obituary column — At Cresswell, 28th ult., aged 74, Mr. William Hallowell.
Death of a Crimean Veteran — With the death of Mr. Wm. Hallowell at Cresswell on Sunday another Crimean veteran has passed away. Mr. Hallowell, who was highly esteemed by all who knew him, was in his 75th year.
When he was 18 years of age he enlisted into the 8th Hussars and in 1854 he sailed with his regiment for the Crimea.
Whilst the cholera was raging in Turkey he volunteered as a nurse to look after his fellow-troopers and shortly afterwards he shared in the hardships and privations of the Crimean campaign, and on many important occasions he carried despatches for his commanding officer.
He received the Turkish medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
He received his discharge in 1856 and then carried on his business as a wheel-wright and joiner till a few years ago. For some time it was seen that the ex-Hussar was sinking under the weight of his years but his death, nevertheless, came about somewhat suddenly on Sunday.
The interment took place at Woodhorn on Wednesday afternoon."
In February of 1979, a lady wrote from Exmouth, Devon, believing herself to be WH's great grand-daughter. According to her letter:
"He went out to the Crimea at the age of 19 [sic]. He took the uniform off another soldier who had died of the cholera, acquired a mare named Polly, took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade, and survived.
There was also another family story about his having been nursed by Florence Nightingale.
He returned to Northumberland, where he set up in business as a joiner and wheel-wright, married, and had four children, of whom her mother was the youngest.
He died about 1902, and is said to be buried at Widdrington, in Northumberland."
[PB: Which is direct or indirect quotation is not clear.]
Apparently his surviving grandson, now in his late seventies (1980) still lives in the same cottage in which William Hallowell resided. Efforts were made to communicate with him, but without success.