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

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Sergeant John LAWSON — 1415, 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born at Ovingham, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland c.1826.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Hounslow on the 23rd of November 1848.

Age: 22

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Labourer.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.

Service

1851 Census

The Cavalry Barracks, Hamlet of Pockthorpe, Parish of St James with Pockthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk.

John Lawson, soldier, unmarried, 24, Private, born Ovingham.

From Private to Corporal: 12th of February 1852.

Corporal to Sergeant: 10th of May 1854.

Wounded in action at Balaclava, Was in Scutari General Hospital from the 6th of November and invalided to England on the 21st of December.

Seen by Queen Victoria at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, on the 3rd of March 1855.

He was among the wounded soldiers seen by Queen Victoria on her visit to Brompton Barracks, Chatham, on the 3rd of March 1855.

"Queen Victoria's First Visit to her Wounded Soldiers, 1855, Jerry Barrett (first exhibited 1856)"

(Click on image to enlarge)

Sent from the Invalid Depot to Newcastle on the 31st of March 1855, "on furlo, till discharge".

Discharge & pension

Finally discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 10th of July 1855:

"Considered unfit for further service. Disabled by amputation of right arm after a canister-shot wound he received at Balaclava in the cavalry charge." The Chatham Invalid Depot Report shows: "Right arm amputated 3 inches below the joint. A good stump, and now quite healed."

An unnamed member of the 11th Hussars who had also taken part in the Charge is quoted in the Daily Telegraph (no date given, but it must have been before the 1875 Dinner):

"All around us were lying our dead and wounded comrades. I remember Lawson and Martin. On the same night I buried their arms, which had been shot off."

Conduct and character: "very good". Served 6 years 117 days.

Aged 28 years 10 months on discharge.

He was awarded a pension of 1/8d. per day.

Living in Chester in 1863.

Medals

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

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was recommended for it on the 1st of February 1855 and received it with a gratuity of £15, but it is not known under what circumstances.

Commemorations

Member Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 & 1879, and served on both committees.

He appeared with other Crimean War veterans as a "Battle of Balaklava Hero" in the Lord Mayor's Show, 1890. He is shown in the 12th carriage in the procession.

Copy of the letter to his niece:

"Royal Hospital,

Chelsea, S.W.

16th March 1899.

Dear Madam,

In reference to your letter of the 13th inst. to Sergeant Muggleton about the death of your uncle, Colour Sergeant John Lawson, I send you his medals and a few pictures and the little money he left. The photograph of your uncle and the young lady is very good: she is Miss May Ross, the grand-daughter of our Governor here, Field-Marshal Sir Robert Stewart, Bart.

Colour Sergeant Lawson was respected and esteemed by all ranks in this place.

Believe me,

Yours, very faithfully,

Ricd. Jupp.

Capt. and Quartermaster.

Miss Dixon, North Seaton School, Morpeth.

P.S. Since writing the above I have finished your uncle's account and I am now sending you his three medals and £2/2/0, (less P.O. commission.) There are three pictures which I will send you if you like, or sell them and send you the money. The carriage might be high, but whatever you wish will be done."

Further detailed medal information archived.

Life after service

1861 Census

6, Clifford Street, Carlisle.

John Lawson, 34, Lodger, Chelsea Pensioner / Railway clerk, born Ovingham.

Admitted to In-Pension at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, on the 1st of September 1887. When he entered the Royal Hospital Chelsea as an In-Pensioner he was 61 years of age, his character was "very good", was "un-married", and had previously resided in the West London Pension District.

1891 Census

District Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

John Lawson, 64, In-Pensioner, born Ovingham, Northumberland.

Death & burial

Died at the Royal Hospital on the 8th of March 1899 aged 72 and was buried in the Chelsea Hospital Ground Plot P70. Grave No. 138782 in Brookwood Cemetery. No headstone was erected.

See also Royal Chelsea Hospital Ground in Brookwood Cemetery.

Extract from the Army and Navy Gazette, [day?] March 1899:

"Sergeant John Lawson died in the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 8th of March 1899. He was in the Balaclava Charge, after which his right arm had to be amputated. He was the possessor of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field. He was also, for some years past, the Colour Sergeant of a Company of Chelsea Pensioners, and where he was very popular."

Further information

Extract from the Newcastle Courant, Friday the 22nd of June 1855:

"One of the Heroes of the Light Brigade at Balaclava -There is at present sojourning in this town, a sergeant of the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) who took part in the sanguinary but gallant charge of the Light Cavalry at Balaclava and where, unfortunately, he lost his right arm. His name is Lawson, and he belongs to Horsley in this county, where he was born, and where his widowed mother now resides in a cottage belonging to the Duke of Northumberland. It appears he is only 28 years of age. After leaving Horsley he went into the service of Lord Raglan, and about seven years ago he joined the 11th Hussars, where in a short time he raised himself to the rank of sergeant, when this fateful charge put an end to his military career.

He is a smart fine-looking fellow, and his description of the charge forcibly illustrates the well-known indomitable courage and stern discipline of the British soldier. Not a man (he says) quailed for a moment at the order, although they saw nothing but inevitable destruction before them; but, nobly led by Lord Cardigan, they rode forward in spite of the sweeping fire of artillery, and after rushing on the very guns and cutting the Russian gunners down, they returned, fighting their way through a host of Russian cavalry.

It was during the course of his return that Sergeant Lawson was wounded in his right arm by a spent shot, and his horse shot under him, but he succeeded in reaching the camp, on foot. His arm was amputated in the field; after which he was removed to Scutari Hospital, where he remained from the 5th of November to the 20th of December, during which time he was personally attended to by Miss Nightingale, of whom he speaks in the highest terms of praise.

On arriving in England he was an invalid in Chatham Hospital and whilst there he was visited by her most gracious Majesty the Queen, who, after putting several questions to him, presented him with a silk handkerchief, hemmed by the Princess Royal. Sergeant Lawson, since his arrival in this town, (Newcastle) has received a medal for "distinguished conduct in the field" and he expects another in a few days, with two bars, — namely one for the Alma and the other for Balaclava."

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1851, 1861 & 1891, and further details about his membership of the Balaclava Commemoration Society kindly provided by Chris Poole.