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

Added 26.11.12.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1571 John MEPHAM — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born at Newhaven, Sussex, c.1825.

Enlisted into the 16th Lancers at Brighton on the 29th of July 1844, but remaining at the Depot, no Regimental number was allocated.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Servant.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Transferred to the 3rd Light Dragoons on the 1st of April 1846. Regimental No. 1754.

Embarked for India on the 30th of April 1846.

Transferred to the 4th Light Dragoons on the 1st of July 1853.

From Private to Corporal: 12th of April 1859.

Corporal to Sergeant: 4th of November 1860.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Canterbury on the 8th of September 1868.

"Free, at own request after 24 years' service."

Served 24 years 43 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months. India, 6 years 3 months.

Conduct: "very good".

In possession of one Good Conduct badge when promoted and would now have had five.

Twice entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.

Still serving in the Somerset Yeomanry at the time of his discharge.

He was then living in Wellington, Somerset, but in the Taunton Pension District to 1875.

Granted a pension of 1/9d. per day.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps, medal and clasp for Goojerat, Turkish Medal and the Long Service medal.

Medals

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

Punjab medal with clasp for Goojerat.

He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal with a gratuity of £5 on the 11th of May 1866.

Commemorations

Life after service

Death & burial


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