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

Last amended 6.6.11. Minor edits 18.2.14, 5.4.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1140, Private Robert LOWTHORPE — 13th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born in Bermondsey, London, c.1818.

Enlistment

Enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons on the 4th of May 1840. No Regimental number was allocated, as he did not join the regiment from the Depot.

Age: 22 years 5 months.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Farrier.

Service

Transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons on the 16th of May 1842.

1851 Census

Note: It has not been possible to consult an image of the original Scottish Census document. The above information relies on the transcription available 28.3.2012, which is not always accurate.

Transcription by Chris Poole, April 2020:

1851 Census

Piershill Barracks, Leith South, Midlothian, Scotland.

Robert Lowthorpe, 31, Private Soldier, born London.

Elizabeth Lowthorpe, 29, born Norwich.

Robert Lowthorpe, 6, born Hounslow.

Elizabeth Lowthorpe, 4, born Longford, Ireland.

John Lowthorpe 2, born Dundalk, Ireland.

Members of the Light Brigade in Piershill Barracks at this time, who would later go to the Crimea, include 1127 William Cresdee 13LD, 1029 Joseph Gammage 13LD, 762 John Linkon / Lincoln, 1140 Robert Lowthorpe 13LD, 1319 Daniel Mahoney 13LD, 1367 Isaac Manning 13LD (appears as Isaac "Maussings"), 1208 Edward Martin 13LD, 1207 Benjamin Marshman 13LD, 1339 Thomas McBrine 13LD, 1341 John McCann 13LD, 1254 James Pamplin 13LD, 1424, 1424 Robert Stanger, and many more.

Left at Scutari on Staff Employ on the 3rd of May 1856 and rejoined the regiment on the 1st of September 1856.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Newbridge on the 6th of August 1857, as:

"Unfit from varicose veins of the right leg. Not aggravated by vice or misconduct. It will materially affect his ability to earn his own livelihood in an active manner."

Served 17 years 54 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.

Conduct: "good".

In possession of three Good Conduct badges.

Twice tried by Court-martial.

Tried and imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial from the 14th of February — 3rd of March and again from the 24th of June — 15th of July 1843.

Aged 39 years on discharge. To live in Norwich.

His pension of 7d. per day was increased to 9d. from the 17th of July 1866. He applied for the arrears from 1857 to 1866 but was told, "No power to grant them" in a letter dated the 4th of June 1868. Pension letters to the 15th of November 1894.

Medals

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

Commemorations

Life after service

1871 Census

Severn Star Yard, Pockthorpe, Norwich.

Robert Lowthorpe, 50, Brewers Labourer, born London.

Elizabeth Lowthorpe, 47, born Norwich

Elizabeth Lowthorpe, unmarried, 19, Silk Factory, born Scotland.

Harriet, 12, Scholar, born Norwich.

Jessie, 10, Scholar, born London.

Ann, 3, born Norwich. [CP]

Robert Lowthorpe has not been found on the 1881 Census return.

Death & burial

Died on the 6th of July 1895.

Death registered

Robert Lowthorpe, 72, Norwich, September Quarter 1895.

Buried in Earlham Road Cemetery at Norwich on the 10th of July 1895, aged 72 years. He is shown in the Cemetery records as a "Labourer and Pensioner", coming from Pockthorpe. A memorial stone was erected, the grave number being 9/761. The headstone which, (according to the Cemetery records) was erected over his grave, has been laid flat, covered with earth, and the ground levelled in a "landscaping" exercise at the cemetery.

From the Army and Navy Gazette for the 3rd of August of 1895:

"13th Hussars. — The remains of Robert Lowthorpe, formerly of the regiment, were interred in Norwich cemetery the other day with full military honours. The whole of the military arrangements were carried out by the Depot of the Norfolk Regiment, under Captain Stott, the firing party being commanded by Lieutenant Crosse. The deceased enlisted on the 4th of May 1840 and after serving through the Crimean War was discharged on August 27 1857 [sic]. He was in possession of the Crimean medal with four clasps, and the Turkish medal. In special recognition of the deceased soldier's services, Colonel Burton, commanding the 9th Regimental District, attended in full uniform which testified to the interest taken by the Norwich Depot Staff in the fortunes of old soldiers."

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1851 and 1871 kindly provided by Chris Poole.


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