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

Added 16.12.12

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1229, Private William MINSHULL — 8th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born in the parish of St. Auries, London, Middlesex, c.1832.

Enlistment

Enlisted at London on the 23rd of July 1852.

Age: 20.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Carpenter.

Sallow complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Medora" on the 27th of April 1854. From Private to Corporal: 1st of May 1854.

At Scutari General Hospital from the 22nd of September and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 11th of October 1854.

Again sent to Scutari on the 21st of November 1854 and embarked to rejoin the regiment on the 24th of February 1855.

Corporal to Sergeant: 14th of April 1856.

Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.

Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 28th of February 1861.

Discharge & pension

Discharged, "time expired", from York on the 14th of September 1864.

Served 12 years 65 days.

Conduct: "very good".

In possession of two Good Conduct badges when promoted. Re-enlisted into the 6th Dragoon Guards on the 21st of March 1865. Regimental No. 582.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 27th of March 1866, as:

"Unfit for further service. Has Phthisis Pulmonary — occurred in the service. Has extreme organic disease of both lungs and a large cavity in the apex of the left. Cannot contribute towards earning a livelihood. Not aggravated by vice, neglect or mis-conduct."

Awarded a pension of 8d. per day for three years, "Conditional."

Served a total of 13 years 10 days, but had only 310 days service on his second enlistment. Aged 35 years on discharge.

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

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 11 months

In India: 6 years 3 months.

To live at No. 6 New Street, Prospect Road, Walworth New Town.

Medals

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

Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.

Served at Kotah and Gwalior.

A note on his documents states," Dead" — no date.

Commemorations

Life after service

Death & burial

Died in the South London Pension District on the 28 March 1866.

St. Catherine's House records show a man of this name as dying in the Stoke Newington District of London, aged 35 years, during January-March Quarter of 1866.

According to his death certificate he died at No. 29 Lion Street, Newington Butts, from "Phthisis, 12 months" aged 35 years, his occupation being that of a "Horse Soldier, Private." A Catherine Eva [sic] of No. 20 Sarah Ann Street, Walworth, was present at, and the informant of his death. (See copy of this in the "Certificates" file.)


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