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LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

Last amended 6.6.2011. Minor edits 17.2.14, 12.4.14.

1871, Private William John KNIGHT — 13th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born at Bromley, Kent, c.1836, and christened there on the 6th of November 1836, the son of William Knight, a Labourer, and his wife, Ann.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Manchester on the 12th of March 1855.

Age: 18.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Labourer.

Features: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 7th of July 1855.

Sent to Scutari on the 10th of August, rejoining the regiment on the 31st of October.

He is shown on a nominal roll of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as being On Duty there from the 27th of August. From this he did not serve in Eupatoria with the regiment.

Rejoined the regiment on the 31st of October 1855.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Cahir on the 15th of November 1856, on the:

"Reduction of the Army and never likely to become efficient. This man has, during his service, been five times in hospital suffering from some form of chest infection. At present he suffers from latent consumption shown as evident by the presence of tubercular in the upper lobes of both lungs. Disease is the result of natural pre-disposition and not aggravated by his military service. At present he can earn a living."

Served 1 year 249 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 10 months.

Conduct: "good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.

Aged 19 years on discharge.

Awarded a pension of 6d. per day for six months.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.

Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.

Commemorations

Life after service

To live in Lewisham, London on discharge.

[His father, also named William Knight, died at Lewisham, aged 76 years, on the 2nd of June 1877.]

Death & burial


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