Born (according to family descendants) in Hereford, c.1833.
Enlisted at London on the 27th of January 1852.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: None shown.
Although not generally acknowledged as such, there is some evidence that he rode in the Charge at Balaklava, 25th October 1854 (see below).
At Scutari from the 15th of November 1854, rejoining the regiment on the 11th of May 1855.
From Private to Corporal, 29th of August 1855.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 6th of May 1857 for "being absent for 18 days."
From Private to Corporal, 7th of September 1857.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
From Corporal to Sergeant on the 1st of April 1859, but was again reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 28th of July 1859.
The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.
In action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
From Private to Corporal, on the 13th of March 1860, being again reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 22nd of May 1861.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
Died at Secunderbad, India, on the 25th of March 1863.
The India Office records show him as dying at Secunderbad on the 25th of March 1863 from "Hepatitis," aged 31 years, and being buried on the 26th of March by the Revd. Thomas A. Part, Chaplain.
In his manuscript account of the Indian Mutiny now in the Regimental Museum, 1117 James Wightman tells of a man he calls "Osborne" but from every known detail was almost certainly "Osmint" (see record of 1196 John Osmint) in which he (Mansell) is mentioned for an incident during the Indian Mutiny "... When forming up after the pursuit of Tantia's cavalry (which had turned tail) a rebel officer who had been cut off from his own men was seen standing by his grey horse which had fallen through exhaustion. With sword in hand, Osborne rode up to Captain Knight to ask permission to kill him. "Yes. But be careful how you go at him," was the reply. Away went Osborne. The rebel faced him boldly and bravely, but by some mishap Osborne got too close to him before he delivered the point and the rebel nearly cut his hand off, which caused him to drop his lance. This, the rebel seized and well defended himself with it. Sergeant Mansell and Private Marsh rode out to attack him, who was then quickly (the word is shown as such) and shot... (See copy in the "Memoirs" file.)
In the original draft of this (found in a "Scrap-book" belonging to James Wightman) there are two versions of the ending of this little affair, the first being crossed out. This stated that: "When within a few yards of the rebel, Osmond's horse fell, and before he could recover himself he received a severe cut above the wrist. But for the timely assistance of Sergeant Mansell and Private Marsh (both Balaklava men) the rebel could have killed him. However, the rebel picked up the fallen lance and well defended himself with it against Mansell and Marsh, when the latter, to save time, shot him..."
The second version shows: "Osmond's horse fell with him, he dropping his lance which the rebel instantly took up and well defended himself with it against, Sergeant Mansell and Private Marsh who had galloped out to attack him and after a few points and parries the rebel was overpowered and killed."
[EJB: This comment about Mansell being a "Balaklava man" could provide some basis that he did indeed take part.]
In 1980, a Miss C. Mansell of Leominster, Herefordshire, a family descendant, provided the information to the Regimental Secretary of the time that the descendant family werein possession of his three medals, all of which are named on original ribbons. Also possessed is a letter to his sister sent from the War Office in 1863, informing her of his death and enclosing his medals, a photograph on glass, measuring some 6 by 4 inches, which was produced in Hereford in 1852 and supposedly depicting him in 17th Lancer uniform. The family always had the strong belief that he rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade. When in February 1990 the family produced his medals and a photograph on a television "Antique Road Show " broadcast from Leominster contact was made and more information obtained to the effect that George Mansell was of a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. The medals were described as being named to "Serjt. Geo. Mansell. 17th Lancers.", (Crimea)(Mutiny) to "Sergt. Geo. Mansell. 17th Lancers." and the Turkish medal as having "faint marks on the rim, but nothing that can be made out." (See copy of his photograph in the 17th Lancer file.)
In February of 1990, a copy of the photograph was provided by them as well as details of the medals. (This picture was taken before the award of the medals.) The lady who showed the medals was the mother of Collette Mansell and George Mansell was the brother of the former's great-grandmother, Mrs Margaret Owen, of Hereford. It had been to her that the medals and the letter notifying Mansell's death had been sent. The letter has now unfortunately, been mislaid. She also said that
Close examination of the provided photograph raises strong doubts as to whether it is of George Mansell, the uniform being more likely of a Scottish unit, something which he is not known to have ever served in. The uniform cap is not of the pill-box type, has a "diced" band, a large badge instead of a button, the tunic has a badge on the neck band, buttons on the cuffs, and the waist-belt appears to be of buff-leather and with a buckle, instead of the usual braided type, and neither is he wearing any lance-cap lines.
[RM: Vide also MJ Trow's book, The Pocket Hercules" a biography of Morris published 2006 where he swore an affadavit in support of Morris's claim for a VC. From this it can be deduced that he charged with the 17th and should be included amongst their survivors.