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

Added 26.11.12.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1800 William MATTHEWS — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born in Manchester, c.1836.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Manchester on the 23rd of January 1855.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Packing-case maker.

Pale complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 14th of June 1855.

From Private to Corporal: 1st of 0ctober 1857.

Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of March 1859,

Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 9th of November 1860 for "conduct un-becoming," and reduced to Pte.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Dublin on the 26th of November 1860.

"Unfit for further service. Has laboured under a chronic rupture since last September. This disease may be fairly attributed to pre-disposition and not aggravated by vice or misconduct."

Served 5 years 293 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 5 months.

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

Once tried by Court-martial.

Aged 24 years 9 months on discharge.

He was awarded a pension of 6d. per day for a period of 18 months from the 4th of December 1860.

To live, C/o. No. 15 Bedford Street, Brook Street, Chorlton-cum-Medlock, Manchester.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.

Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.

Commemorations

Life after service

Death & burial


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