Born at Cheltenham, c.1831.
1841 Census
Normans Place, Cheltenham.
Robert Jackson, 10, son of a Tailor, also Robert Jackson, 45, & his wife Hester, 40.
There were three other siblings: Hester 8, Ann 6, & Harriett 3.
Enlisted at Birmingham on the 10th of May 1847.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 5".
Trade: Bricklayer.
Robert Jackson was a farrier in the regiment in 1854.
Killed in action at Balaclava
Next of kin: Father, Robert Jackson, living in Cheltenham.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
[PB, October 2016: His medals came up for auction at Wallis and Wallis, October 12, 2016.]
Lot 150
An emotive Crimea War medal, awarded to Robert Jackson, 17th Lancers, who was killed in The Charge of the Light Brigade, October 25th 1854.
Description: An emotive Crimea War medal, awarded to Robert Jackson, 17th Lancers, who was killed in The Charge of the Light Brigade, October 25th 1854. The medal, bearing 3 clasps: Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol, officially impressed (R Jackson 17th Lancers). Good Very Fine and displaying a pleasing dark tone. Plate 2
Note: Little is known of Private Robert Jackson: he was born to Robert Jackson Snr at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and, prior to his enlistment on 3rd May 1847, was a bricklayer. Private Jackson was killed during the Charge and is named on a memorial in Cheltenham. "Honour the Light Brigade" by Lummis & Wynn page 279 states "An impressed medal seen by Mr. Mackenzie in 1911".
Records housed in the National Archives, Kew include a document penned by Lord Raglan in December 1854 in which he laments the severity of the loss and praises the "gallantry, order and discipline" shown by the Light Brigade as they charged the Russian batteries at Balaklava on October 25th 1854. The 7th Earl of Cardigan, at the head of the Charge, stated afterwards that the event "did not occupy more than 20 minutes' and that after their return found "195 mounted men out of about 670".
The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) known as "The Death or Glory Boys', formed up on the forward left of the Brigade and numbered 147 at the outset; a roll call afterwards showed they had been reduced to 38 by those killed or wounded; 3 of their number were awarded the Victoria Cross for their part in saving wounded officers under severe musket and shell fire. Provenance: Ex Wallis and Wallis Spring Auction 2015 Lot 15.
Estimate: £9,000 — £10,000
The name "Private Robert Jackson 17th Lancers" appears on the Crimean War memorial outside the Queen's Hotel in Cheltenham. (There is another photograph in the 17th Lancer file.)
Killed in action at Balaclava.
Next of kin: Father, Robert Jackson. Living in Cheltenham.
Census information for 1841 kindly provided by Chris Poole.