[EJBA: Photograph of GWM. See below for details.]
[EJBA: Photograph of GWM. See below for details.]
Born in London on the 31st of August 1808, the son of Philip Wynell Mayow [PWM], of Bray, near Looe, Cornwall, a solicitor in the Excise Department, and his wife Jane Elizabeth, daughter of General Charles Deare [PB: EJB had "Deane"], H.E.I.C.S. [Honourable East India Company Service]. [Property in Bray (Cornwall), Hanworth Hall (near Cromer, Norfolk), and Clipston (Northants).]
[PB: FOLLOW UP: Was GWM's mother indeed "a Creole lady, with princely fortune", as claimed in a number of reports of his father's death (see below)? Strangely, both GWM's mother and wife were named "Jane Elizabeth". Or is there a confusion? Or was this "Creole lady" his father's first wife — whose father was described [where?] as a "Liverpool merchant", which sounds more promising. Check in Ancestry and e.g. Burke.
Or was she the wife of Robert Wynell Mayow (1777?-1817?), who "married in Oct. 1805, Elizabeth, daughter of William Harding, of Liverpool, merchant, by whom ... he [RWM] left at his decease in Jan. 1817, two sons and one daughter, Catharine-Anne, married at Meerut, in India, 16 April, 1844, to Edward-Salusbury Lloyd, Esq., capt. 49th regt. E.I.C.S., third son of the late Richard-Hughes Lloyd, Esq. of Plymog, Gwerclas, and Bashall. Names of the two sons?
On RWM's death Elizabeth nee Harding "married 2ndly, the Rev. John Morrall." When she died [date?], [her probate document?] refers to two executors. One was "Half-blood George Brookes of Whitchurch aforesaid Gentleman" [her son by Robert? But if so why "Brookes"?] and "John Harding Wynell Mayow of Bath" [the son by PWM's brother's second? marriage]. ADD IMAGE OF PROBATE.
[date? when PWM_1_1716-1781, born Wynell, inherited his uncle ? Mayow's estate in Bray?][PB; Notice interlocking connections with the Church, and with the Army in India. GWM's cousin, John Wynell-Mayow, became a Lieut-Colonel in the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers. John's father (PWM's younger brother, Robert) was the Rector? of Bray. Two? of GWM's brothers were clergymen. GWM's mother was the daughter of a general in the HEICS, and his wife Elizabeth was the daughter of the Bishop of Cork.]
Illustrated London News, Saturday 18 November 1876:
The deaths are ... announced of John Harding Wynell-Mayow, late Lieutenant-Colonel 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers, aged seventy-three (elder son of the Rev. Robert Wynell-Mayow, younger brother of the late Philip Wynell- Mayow, Esq., of Bray, Cornwall, and Hanworth Hall, Norfolk)...
[PB: Locations/sources:
"Mayow of Bray in Morval, settled there before 1620; before which time, they were for three generations of Looe. Bray is now the property of Philip Wynell Mayow, Esq., who resides in London. (General history: Gentry Pages xcviii-cxviii Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1814.)".
[PB: GWM studied at [a?] Hampstead School, and then at Trinity College, Cambridge. The dates are ambiguous, but c.1824-5-6.]
Name George Wynell Mayow
College TRINITY
Entered Michs. 1826
Born Aug. 31, 1808
More Information Adm. pens. (age 18) at TRINITY, July 10, 1824. [Eldest] s. of Philip Wynell [of Brea [Bray], Cornwall, and Clipston, Northants. (and Elizabeth, dau. of Col. Charles Deare). B. Aug. 31, 1808 (sic)]. B. in London. School, Hampstead. Matric. Michs. 1826. Cornet, 4th Dragoons, June 9, 1825; Lieut., 1830; Capt., 1835; Major, 1846; Lieut.-Col., 1854; Colonel, 1859. Served in the Crimea, 1854-6. Deputy Quarter-Master General, Dublin. Major-Gen., Mar. 6, 1868. C.B., 1867. Married, Aug. 16, 1842, Jane Elizabeth, 3rd dau. of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Kyle, Bishop of Cork. Died suddenly, s.p., Jan. 1, 1873. Brother of the next. (Boase, Coll. Cornub.)
[Source: Source Citation for Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 (Ancestry.co.uk). Also venn.lib.com.ac.uk: "George Wynell Mayo".]>/p>
[PB: Dates at Cambridge seem a little odd — just two years, 1824-1826? "Adm pens." = "Admitted Pensioner" = "an undergraduate student without financial support from his or her college, being neither a scholar nor a sizar OED". Wouldn't GWM have been about 16, not 18, in 1824? He cannot have been a student for very long since he was already a Cornet when he matriculated 2 years later in 1826 — I assume there was a gap between leaving Trinity and "matriculating" [exact meaning? Presumably he did not gain a degree?]
[PB: GWM's military career can be followed in some detail by e.g. a BNA search for "George Wynell Mayow", sorted by date. Also Hart's Army Lists.]
Cornet in the 4th Dragoon Guards: 9th of June 1825.
Lieutenant: 12th of February 1830.
Captain: 6th of March 1835.
[PB: GWM's parents were living in London in 1841. CHECK, but I believe PWM owned this house, since it was sold by his estate after his death in 1845.]
1841 Census
Guilford St, St George Bloomsbury, Middx.
Phillip Mayow, 70, Solicitor, born out of county
Elizabeth Mayow, 60, born out of county
Charlotte White, 45, Independent?
Anne Crook, 65, ?
Sarah Jeffery, 45, ditto
Susan Bligh, 25, ditto
Elizabeth Johnson, 28, ditto
Samuel Green, 30, ?
George Wm Harrison, 16, ditto
[Source: Ancestry.co.uk: 1841 Census.]
[PB: CHECK: Philip Wynell Mayow's death in London was reported in e.g. Bell's New Weekly Messenger and Windsor and Eton Express, January 1845. His London house was put up for sale shortly after. Both articles mention property in Cumberland.
PWM's burial record: London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003 for Philip Wynell Mayow, is at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1559/31280_195168-00381.]
Bell's New Weekly Messenger, Sunday 5 January 1845, p.7 [NEEDS EDIT.]
Inquest on Mr. Mayow, Solicitor of Excise.
On Tuesday morning Mr. Mills, the deputy coroner, luld inquest at the Friend in Hand public house, Colonnade Mews, Russell Square, on the body of Mr. Philip Weyoell Mayow, aged 73, the late Solicitor of Excise, No. 64, Guildford street.
The jury having viewed the body, Susan Guy stated that she housemaid to the deceased. Monday week be had cold, and had since remained at home, tie was attended Dr. Latham. Friday evening, at nine o'clock, she last saw him alive, in his bedroom and be was then more cheeifnl than usual; and Saturday morning she entered room for the purpose of lighting the fire, and became alarmed at her master not speaking to her. She went and looked at him, and thought he was dead, immediately alarmed the house, and sent for medical assistance. Di. tlbam, of Grosvenor street, stated that he attended the deceased from Monday werk for influenza. Witness had examined the body on lues Jay morning, and found the heart of the deceased very small and soft. He i not say that the late tire did not make impression upon the mind of the deceased, as be was kind arced mao, although possessing great force character. Verdict — Natural death.
The deceased entered the Excise about the year 1804, and performed the datirs of assistant solicitor up to the year 1829, when Mr. Carr, the chief solicitor, died, and Mr. Mayow was appointed his successor. This period the office had been held by letters patent from the Crown, the chief solicitor was paid by fees, but an alteration took place on Mr. Mayow's succession the appointment, resigned his patent and right to take ices, consideration of which the Lords of the Treasury allowed him yearly income of £2,000, with a distinct intimation to the Board of Excise that the salary would reduced fully one half on the discontinuance of Mr. Mayow's services by death or otherwise.
The deceased gentleman married a Creole lady, with a princely fortune, and had three sons and two daugnters. One of the former studied for a short time for the bar, but afterwards relinquished that profession. Two of them hold lucrative livings in the church England, the third is an officer in the dragoons.
The deceased possessed large estates in Norfolk and Cumberland [?], and the daughter of the Bishop of Cork is united to one of the sons belonging to the church [PB: surely not — it was GWM]. Mrs. Mayow died about five months since. several occasions
Mr. nos i been known, when needy offender against the Excise laws has been sent to gaol, default of paying fine imposed, to become a private donor to the lamdy proportionably to their distress.
[Source: BNA: Bell's New Weekly Messenger, 5 January 1845.]
DEATH OF MR. MAYOW, SOLICITOR EXCISE
On Wednesday morning Mr. Mills, the deputy coroner, held an inquest at the Friend in Hand public-house, Colonnade Mews, Russell-square, the body of Mr. Philip Weynell Mayow, aged 73, the late solicitor of Excise, No. 54, Guildford-street.
The jury having viewed the body, Susan Guy stated that she was housemaid to the deceased. On Monday week he bad a cold, and had since remained at home. He was attended by Dr. Latham. On Friday evening, at nine o'clock, the last saw him alive, in his bedroom, and he was then more cheerful than usual; and on Saturday morning she entered the room for the purpose of lighting the fire, and became alarmed at her master not speaking to her. She went and looked at him, and thought he was dead, and immediately alarmed the house, and sent for medical assistance.
Dr. Latham, of Grosvenor-street, stated that he attended the deceased from Monday week for influenza. Witness had examined the body this morning, and found the heart of the deceased very small and soft. He would not say that the late fire did not make any impression upon the mind of the deceased, he was a kind-hearted man, although possessing great force of character. Verdict, Natural Death.
The deceased entered the Excise about the year 1804, and performed the duties of assistant solicitor up to the year 1829, when Mr. Carr, the chief solicitor, died, and Mr. Mayow was appointed his successor. Up to this period the office had been held letters patent from tbe Crown, and the chief solicitor was paid by fees, but an alteration took place on Mr. Mayow's succession to the appointment, and he resigned his patent and right to take fees, in consideration of which the Lords of the Treasury allowed him a yearly income of £2,000, with a distinct intimation to the Board of Excise that the salary would be reduced fully one-half on the discontinuance of Mr. Mayow's service by death or otherwise.
The deceased gentleman married a Creole lady, with princely fortune, and had three sons and two daughters. One of the former studied for a short time for the bar [PB: GWM?], but afterwards relinquished that profession. Two of them hold lucrative livings in the church of England, and the third is officer in the dragoons. The deceased possessed large estates in Norfolk and Cumberland, and the daughter of the Bishop of Cork is united to one of the sons belonging to the church. Mrs. Mayow died about five months since.
On several occasions Mr. Mayow has been known, when a needy offender against the Excise laws has been sent to gaol, in default of paying a fine imposed, become private donor to the family proportionately to their distress. He was much respected by the various law officers of the Crown, and a numerous and distinguished circle of friends, by whom his loss will be deeply deplored.
[Source: BNA: Death of GWM's father, Windsor and Eton Express, Saturday 04 January 1845.
[PB: On the 14th of August 1842, in Dublin, GWM married Jane Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Kyle, D.D., Bishop of Cork. (Her younger sister, Emily Elizabeth Kyle, married Francis? Brady, eldest son of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.) According to a brief obituary in the Illustrated London News, Saturday 18 January 1873 [see below], Jane Elizabeth died in 1848 (in childbirth?). There were no children, and GWM appears not to have remarried. I have found no other record of her life, which seems odd.
This may be him: Wikipedia: Samuel Kyle (bishop), (1770 — 18 May 1848). There was an obituary in The Times, Saturday, May 20, 1848; pg. 8; Issue 19868; col F, which would be worth following up.]
]
Major (on the Staff): 9th of November 1846.
On to half-pay: 8th of October 1847.
GWM is shown as a Brigade Major, Brevet Lieut.-Col, unatt[ached]", beneath Major-General Lord Cardigan. (Next page here.)
Lieutenant-Colonel (Unattached): 20th of June 1854.
Asst. Q.M.G. to the Cavalry Division in the Crimea from the 20th of December 1854.
On to half-pay: 24th of April 1855.
Colonel (Unattached): 2nd of April 1859.
Served as Deputy Q.M.G. in Dublin from the 1st of January 1868, and was also Joint Deputy Master of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in 1870.
Major-General (Unattached): 16th of May 1872.
Alexanders Toy Soldiers (downloaded 20.1.2019)
Colonel Mayow served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, first as a Brigade Major and afterwards as Assistant Q.M. General to the Cavalry Division, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps) Knight of the Legion of Honour, Sardinian Medal and the 5th Class of the Medjidie.
He was Brigade-Major to Lord Cardigan before, and at, Balaclava.
He became separated from him on reaching the guns and forcing his way out of the confusion, saw a body of Russian cavalry preparing to attack in force. Realising that the scattered remnants of the first line would be destroyed, he shouted, "Seventeenth Lancers. This way. This way."
Sergeant O'Hara of the 17th had already rallied some of his men and was trying to prevent the Russian gunners from drawing off their pieces. Mistaking his signal, and becoming separated in the smoke, O'Hara went on, while Mayow, with some 15 men of the 17th Lancers and a few of the 13th Light Dragoons, charged out of the valley, driving the Russians before them upon the main body, until he was some 500 yards further on down the valley.
Halting the party, and seeing the remnants of a squadron of the 8th Hussars under Colonel Sherwell [PB: sic? Shewell] on his right rear he joined his own small force on to the left flank and handed over the command to his senior officer.
Three of the Russian squadrons still left on the Causeway Heights now menaced the rear and giving his mixed squadron, "Right about wheel," Colonel Sherwell charged them. As usual, the Russians received the charge at the halt, and were routed.
[PB: SOURCE? Is there more? It may be from London Standard, 5 Sep 1857. However I could not find a copy in the BNA 13.8.2018. Copied elsewhere?]
[PB: CHECK the (numerous) results of BNA search, including mentions in articles on deficiencies in forage for horses, e.g. Morning Advertiser — Wednesday 30 April 1856.]
[PB: ADD SOURCE — "Cardigan v. Calthorpe" — Tony Lucking's transcription and commentaries. Also CHECK this against e.g. Laurence Crider's version p.30, and Dutton 2nd edn p.15.]
Tony Lucking:
Calthorpe's own affidavit is concerned with the details of publication of his book, and correspondence with Cardigan, etc. He mustered 15 witnesses in his defence, of whom the most prominent were Col. Mayow, and Lucan.
Mayow's affidavit reads:
1. I was Brigade Major to the Light Cavalry forming part of Her Majesty's Army in the Crimea.
2. I remember the charge made during the Battle of Balaklava by the Light Cavalry Brigade under the command of Lieutenant General (then Major General) the Earl of Cardigan on the twenty fifth October One Thousand eight hundred and fifty four [PB: check capitalisation].
3. The front line of the Light Cavalry Brigade consisted of the 13th Dragoons and the 17th Lancers. I was Brigade Major and accompanied it in its advance and it so happened that with the first line I was the next Senior Officer to Lord Cardigan. As the line approached the Russian Artillery the smoke became so dense that we could see but little except the flashes of the guns and I then lost sight of Lord Cardigan.
At the part of the Russian line that I came in contact with they were trying to limber up and carry off these guns, but as I at the moment perceived a line of Russian Cavalry in rear of the Guns, I directed these men who belonged to the 17th Lancers to leave the Guns to be dealt with by the second line and to charge the Russian Cavalry — this they did and drove them in on their second reserve — we were then within sight of the bridge over the aqueduct and I should think five hundred yards or more in rear of the Russian Guns.
Finding the Enemy then too strong to be dealt with by the men that remained I called out to the men to halt, and perceiving the 8th Hussars advancing I further directed and led the men back to the Corps which on the moment was wheeled about by Colonel Shewell
4. I was induced to give these orders in consequence of not being able to see anything of Lord Cardigan on emerging from the smoke that hung over the Russian Guns and being the Senior Officer in his absence until I joined Colonel Shewell, we were then completely cut off by the Enemy and after a momentary consultation amongst the Senior Officers, Colonel Shewell, who assumed the command, led us to the charge. We broke through and after we had broken through we repassed the Russian Guns (which were then all unhorsed) and galloping up the valley reformed in rear of the Heavy Brigade.
Whilst going up the valley I looked in every direction for Lord Cardigan (who would have been conspicuous from wearing the Hussar dress of the 11th) and not being able to see him anywhere I said to myself "Lord Cardigan must be either killed or taken prisoner" — However when I got in rear of the Heavy Brigade I found his Lordship there and he spoke to me.
There is a further affidavit on the same date verifying the accuracy of the map marked 'A'. It mentions also that Mayow served with the QMG's Dept. in the Crimea 20 Dec 54 to the month of December 1855 and was consequently "very familiar" with the surrounding country and official plans.
[PB: Source: Tony Lucking, Cardigan v Calthorpe [Add full source]. Date of the affidavit? ]
AFFIDAVIT of GEORGE GOOCH CLOWES. of Sherwood House. Worcester, in the County of Worcester, formerly a Major in Her Majesty's Army. Sworn 29th May. 1863 Filed 2nd June. 1863.
SAY as follows:
I. In the year 1854 I was a Cornet in the 8th Hussars, and as such I took part in the charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade at the battle of Balaklava on the 25th October, 1854.
2. The 8th Hussars, under the command of Colonel Shewell, advanced in the rear ol'the brigade, and charged down the valley until we became mixed up with the Russian troops, and their batteries ceased to fire on us.
3. I then observed Colonel Mayow galloping back towards us with some men of the 17th Lancers, and Colonel Shewell asked him where Lord Cardigan was. Colonel Mayow replied that he did not know.
4. At that time a body of Russian cavalry had formed in our rear with a view to cut off our retreat. By the orders of Colonel Shewell we were wheeled about, and charged through the Russian Lancers. After getting through them, I was wounded by a grape shot, my horse was killed. and l was taken prisoner.
S. The 8th Hussars were not during the charge attacked by the Russian cavalry on their right flank. We only retired when the Russians endeavoured to cut off our retreat, as mentioned in the last paragraph.
[Source: Affidavit filed in Cardigan-Calthorpe Lawsuit. Quoted in LC 1st ed. In Tony Lucking? fr unident press clipping courtesy of Rod Burman
[PB: In June 2018, Douglas Austin sent a transcription he had made of a document he had come across at Kew in which George Mayow describes in some detail the events of the day. Who is Vacher?]
Dublin Castle
Feby 7th 1862
My dear Vacher
I have received your note of the 4th inst. asking details of the battle of Balaklava.
I only saw the Heavy Dragoon Charge from a distance, and cannot give any details regarding it.
I had been unwell and was on board ship outside the harbour of Balaklava on the night of the 24th October, and on landing on the Morning of the 25th I with some difficulty got a horse and went up immediately to join the Light Brigade of which you will remember I was Brigade Major.
I joined that Brigade just after the Heavy Dragoon Charge had taken place.
They (The Light Brigade) were then on the ground that lies a little nearer the Tchernaya than the ridge of hills on which were constructed the redoubts normally called the Turkish Redoubts.
The Heavy Brigade was at that time between these redoubts and Balaklava but afterwards came over the ridge in support of the Light Brigade Charge.
Very shortly after I got there Lord Cardigan received an order from Lord Lucan thro' an A.D.C. to advance and he advanced the Brigade at a walk in the direction of the Valley (down which the Light Brigade afterwards charged) as far as he could without bringing them under fire & then halted.
A little time after he had halted Lord Lucan came up and directed Lord Cardigan with his Brigade to attack the Russians who were posted with guns at the other end of the valley.
Lord Lucan made the disposition of the Troops himself which was as follows
--
1st Line 13th Lt. Dns. & 17th Lancers (2 Sqns each)
2nd or connecting line 11th Hussars (2 Sqns)
3rd line 4th Lt. Dns and 8th Hussars
(The 4th Dragns had 2 Sqns but the 8th Hussrs had only one (strong) Sqn made up of three troops they having a troop away as escort to Lord Raglan) These lines were about 200 paces apart; the formation is shown in the margin.
[ADD IMAGE]
The Troops advanced in this order and had only advanced a very short distance when they were exposed to a very heavy fire and the shells burst among the Sqns with very fatal effect.
Under these circumstances it was obvious that the quicker we cleared the intervening ground between us and the Enemy the better, and the Sqns advanced at full gallop. The smoke was very blinding and we came quite close up to the Russian guns before we saw them.
There was some fighting there between our men of the first line (13th & 17th) & the Russians & the Russians tried to limber up & carry off some of their guns but they did not succeed in doing so.
We then saw a/another line of Russians a short distance in rear of the guns, this was charged by our first line. The Enemy went about when we were a few yards from them and went off in the direction of the aqueduct followed by our people; after going some distance the Russians who were flying before our us, rallied on a mass of their own people composed as it seemed to me of both of Cavalry and Infantry. — It was now evident that "Our bolt was shot". — The greater part of the men and horses were disabled, there were numerous gaps in the line, and the horses were blown; We saw at a glance that we had no earthly chance of breaking the mass before us — a halt was called and the men were got together as much as possible — at this moment we descried the Squan of the 8th Hussars advancing thro' the smoke to our support, and we at once retired with a view of joining them. Just before we reached them Colonel Shewell who commanded them finding that the Russian Cavalry had gained (& formed across) his rear wheeled his Squan about, the men of the 13th & 17th formed on either flank, and we again successfully charged the Russians & after breaking thro' them, gallopped on till we passed to the rear of the heavy Brigade where the few men that remained were reformed
It appears, but I do not know at what point, that in advancing the 4th Lt. Dragoons from the 3d line joined the 11th Hussars, and these two regiments successfully attacked a body of Russians a little to the left of the line of attack of the 13th & 17th, as however I was with the 13th & 17th I do not know the details.
I have no memoranda by me, but if I remember right, the Brigade went into action a little over 600 Sabres and Lances & that we mustered 160 odd after the action, there were however a great number of horses running riderless about the plain which came in in the course of the night and were, when the Troops were mustered the next morn., mounted by men whose horses having been shot in the action had escaped on foot
I should add that we were exposed to a heavy flank fire of Musketry & Artilly -
The Heavy Cavalry lost many men & horses in supporting the Light Cavalry Charge
I have no sketch of the ground made at the time but Captain Branfill has been good enough to make a copy from the Engineer Murray and I have put in the different positions of the Cavalry alluded to in the above details from memory
I remain
My dear Vacher
Yours most truly
G Wynell Mayow
You will of course remember that the French Cavalry on our left charged the Russians & compelled them to with draw their Guns
GWM
[Source: National Archives, Kew: WO-28_196, transcribed by Douglas Austin, June 2018.]
[PB: Find and add map.]
Part of "The Return of the Major", Northampton Herald, 16 August 1856, quoted in Allison Collier, Jeremy Thompson, Clipston: a Heritage, (Leicester: Troubador, 2009), pp.165-8.
The Crimean War (I854-l856)
The Northampton Herald, on the 16th August 1856, reports of a Major-General George Wynell Mayow returning home to Clipston from the Crimean wars. It says:
On the determination of war, the inhabitants of the village gave General Mayow a great reception. He was literally brought home on the shoulders of the men of the village. A sumptuous dinner was held on the green. The tables extended along the main road, and to this dinner every villager was invited. On that occasion, General Mayow gave a speech recounting his experiences and horrors of the Crimean war [see Appendix D]. At the end of his speech, the General said "In conclusion I would say that diverse as the scenes I have witnessed in my absence have been, I have seen nothing so pleasant to my eye as the green and fertile plains of Clipston". To this the villagers heartily cheered their hero.
General Mayow lived at the Hollies, situated on Naseby Road. He died at the age of 64, and was buried in Clipston churchyard on the 8th January 1873.
[PB: Had he always lived at "The Hollies" when he was in Clipston, or did he move there in later life? Are there any photographs?]
...came to the battle of Balaclava. All did their best; the Dragoons rode as none but the Englishmen could ride (cheers) and the Russian cavalry dare not face them. The battle of Inkerman was the most decisive and important, and shewed the superiority of our men. Having regained the ridge, it had been asked why the storming of Sebastopol was not undertaken the next day, but our generals had other considerations to take into account. Some would, perhaps, have gone on, but the strength of their forces after the battle contrasted with the probable strength in the town, seemed inadequate to the generals: if they failed, all their flags and guns would be lost, and it was thought too great a risk to run for the honour of England. I myself thought so but it was not for me to judge.
After this battle, the winter set in, and the sufferings of the army were severe. However, their hearts were in the right place, and they knew that their countrymen would support them hand and heart. The siege promised to be as protracted as the ten years siege of Troy, but I was determined that nothing but death should prevent me seeing it out. (Cheers). The taking of Sebastopol, however, was at length effected, and of the circumstances attending it, you are doubtless fully aware.
The assault on the Mamelon by the French was the grandest sight I have seen,- Englishmen walked to the assault, but, in this case, immediately their rockets fired, the French started off and ran over the intervening space, about a hundred yards, at the top of their speed, returning no shot, and, rushing on impetuously and irresistibly, carried the parapet. I noticed one chef de battalion several yards in advance; he was first over the parapet, but almost instantly met his death for the honour of France. In four and a half minutes the parapet was carried. I also saw the Malakhof stormed.
Like Nineveh, Sebastopol was reduced to a city of ruins. The practice of the artillery had been almost perfect, and the Russians had since acknowledged that the firing was so terrific that they lost thousands of men a day, and must have given in in a few days from sheer loss of life. (Cheers).
No old soldier would wish for war with the worst horrors of it so recently before his eyes, but should the services of the army be again required, I have no doubt it would be found valiantly doing its duty. (Cheers).
In conclusion I would say that diverse as the scenes I have witnessed in my absence have been, I have seen nothing so pleasant to my eye as the green hills and fertile plains of Clipston. (Cheers).
From the Northampton Herald, August 16th, 1856. General Mayow lived at The Hollies. He died at the age of 64, and was buried in Clipston churchyard on the
Clipston: a Heritage, by Allison Collier, Jeremy Thompson, pp.167-8
1117 James Wightman of the 17th Lancers wrote in his Memoirs that he "saw Colonel Mayow struggling with a big Russian officer, neatly tip off his shako with the point of his sword, then lay his head open with a cut."
[Add ref.]
[PB: CHECK — this appears to be the night before the "Cavalry Affair of the Bulganak", 19 September 1854 (i.e. the day before the Battle of the Alma), when the army was en route to Balaclava... for most soldiers, it was their first experience of war...
Mitchell mentions GWM approvingly, citing his calm bravery in quieting nervous troops who had begun to shoot wildly...
There is a fine tinted lithograph, after William Simpson: NAM: 'The Cavalry Affair of the Heights of Bulganak — the First Gun. 19th Sepr 1854'. ]
That night I made myself a nice bed of oat straw behind my horse, making up my mind for a good night's rest, if not turned out. I had slept about three hours, when I was awakened by a shout, "Turn out the inlying picket." I jumped up, and was unfastening my horse, when a bullet whistled close by, and friendly fire the report of firearms was heard all around the camp. The night was very dark, so we could see the flashes quite plainly.
As we were falling in several bullets whistled by us, but luckily no one was hit in the camp, except one, and he, I believe, was a private servant to an officer of the 17th Lancers. He was shot in the leg.
We were moved out in front to the support of the outlying picket, which was, as we believed, engaged with the enemy; but the night was so dark, and the firing appeared to be all round the camp, so that no one knew where to march us.
Luckily the brigade-major, Colonel Mayhow [sic], seeing how matters stood, rode to the front, shouting, "Cease firing" as loud as he was able, and riding around the whole line of vedettes [mounted sentry], succeeded in stopping the firing. After all it proved to be a false alarm.
One of the vedettes lost his front, and hearing something, as he thought, in his front, but which was really in his rear, fired, and so raised the false alarm. It was very annoying, as the whole camp was roused full three hours before they otherwise would have been. I am glad to say that it was not my regiment that furnished the outlying picket that night, for, to say the least of it, it was a clumsy piece of business.
[pp.47-8]
Before we reached the guns every officer of my squadron, the second, was either killed or wounded, leaving no one to command us.
Thirty of the men followed Troop Sergeant Major O'Hara, and fifteen followed Colonel Mayow, chief of Cardigan's Staff. As I said before the 13th Light Dragoons were so scattered, that a group did not enter the enemy's lines together. The 11th Hussars was ordered to support us, the 17th Lancers, and we never saw them in the fight. Colonel Douglas, 11th Hussars, Lord George Paget, 4th Light Dragoons, Colonel Shewell, 8th Hussars, all managed to keep groups of their commands together, to enter the line of guns. Lord Paget commanded the 4th Light Dragoons and 8th Hussars, yet he lost the 8th and found the 11th Hussars (our supports).
[REF]
Also:
The engagement may be summed up thus: There were five groups which charged into the guns. The first two were 17th Lancers, one group commanded by Colonel Mayow, chief of Lord Cardigan's staff, the other by Troop Sergeant Major O'Hara. The third group was the 11th Hussars under Colonel Douglas. The fourth group were 4th Light Dragoons, commanded by Lord Paget. The fifth group, 8th Hussars, Colonel Shewell and the last regiment to enter the batteries.
These five groups charged the masses of Russian Cavalry that were supporting the artillery, time and time again, driving them some hundred yards down the valley. This seems almost incredible, but it must be recalled that we had no idea of the colossal blunder of which we were victims.
[REF]
And:
The officers commanding the different groups now realised that they were unsupported and in great danger. There was a hasty effort to join forces to make the best of their way back. Lord Paget, happening to be near the 11th Hussars, ordered Colonel Douglas to join his command. He refused at first, but seeing himself cut off did so, and a wordy controversy as to who was technically in command takes up many pages in Paget's book. Probably, at the time, neither gave thought to anything but getting out of the trap.
Colonel Mayow and Sergeant-Major O'Hara joined with the 8th Hussars, making two groups fighting and charging the Russian Lancers. Some squads of the Light Brigade had not time to wheel about, but just time to go three's about, and charge with rear rank in front to prevent the Russian Cavalry from charging their flanks. Not all the Brigade had fallen into these larger groups which first cut their way out.
[REF]
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class, Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour (5th Class), and the Sardinian War Medal. The citation for this stated: "Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel George Wynell Mayow, (Unattached) Served as a Staff Officer to the Cavalry in the campaign of 1854-55 and was present at the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Siege of Sebastopol." He was later nominated a Companion of the Bath.
It cannot be confirmed if his Crimean medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855, as his name has only been written in (with clasp entitlement) on the Nominal Roll of those present and now in the PRO. Neither does it appear on similar rolls published in the Illustrated London News of the 26th of May 1855 or the United Services Magazine for June 1855.
WHEREAS GEORGE WYNELL MAYOW, of Clipston Market, Harborough, in the County of Leicester ?? Bray, in the parish of Morval, in the County of Cornwall, a Colonel in Her Majesty's Army, and' JOHN FRANCIS BULLER, of Morval aforesaid, Esquire, being respectively interested under the provisions of "The Acts for the Inclosure, Exchange, and Improvement of Lands," in the Land and Hereditaments set forth in the Schedule hereunder written, with the Easements and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, and being desirous of effecting an Exchange of the same, have made application, in writing, to the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales to direct enquiries whether such proposed Exchange would be beneficial to the Owners of such respective Lands and Hereditaments, and to proceed with the same under the provisions of the said Acts.
Now the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales, being of opinion that such Exchange would be beneficial, and that the terms thereof are just and reasonable, hereby give Notice that they will cause to be framed and and confirmed, under their Hands and Seal, an Order of Exchange in the matter of the said application unless notice, in writing, of dissent to the said proposed Exchange be given to them by some person entitled to an Estate in, or to a charge upon, the said Land and Hereditaments or any part thereof, on or before the 12th day of September next.
THE SCHEDULE TO WHICH THE FOREGOING NOTICE REFERS. Land and Hereditaments in which the above- Land and Hereditaments in which the above named GEORGE WYNELL MAYOW is interested, named JOHN FRANCIS BULLER, is interested situate in the parish of Morval, in the County of situate in the parish of Morval, in the County of Cornwall, and proposed to be exchanged for the Land Cornwall, and proposed to be exchanged for the Land and Hereditaments hereinafter specified. and Hereditaments hereinbefore specified.
etc
Witness my hand this 21st day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixtv-e' bt — Inclosure Commission, 3. St. James's Square, London, S.W... [IF USEFUL, ADD IMAGE & TIDY UP THIS TRANSCRIPT]
[Source: BNA: Royal Cornwall Gazette, 28 May 1868.]
George Wynell Mayow fell dead from his horse when riding across a grass field at Misterton, Leicestershire, while out on a run with the Pytchley Hunt. The cause of death was said by a medical man who was on the spot to have been from "Heart disease".
Extract from the Market Harborough Advertiser, 7th of January 1873:
"Sudden Death in the Hunting Field"
"On Wednesday, January 1st, General Mayow, of Clipston, was out hunting with the Pytchley hounds. Upon approaching a brook near to Gilmorton (between the village and Lutterworth) and conversing with some other gentlemen he suddenly fell from his horse, as was supposed, in a fit.
Medical attendance was at once procured but it was found that the vital spark of life had fled. His body was at once conveyed to Clipston.
The deceased's brother is the rector of Clipston, the Revd. M.W. Mayow. General Mayow, who was one of the heroes of the Balaclava Charge, was a brave soldier and rider to hounds. He was very much respected in the hunting-field and by all his friends and brother officers."
Death registered
George Wynell Mayow, aged 64, March 1873, Lutterworth.
[Photograph in EJBA: Mayow tomb. Judging by the curved corners, the photograph was probably not taken by EJB. 1970s? 80s?]
He was buried in the churchyard of All Saints' Church at Clipston, Northamptonshire. The inscription on his tomb reads:
Major General George Wynell Mayow, of Bray, Cornwall, and of Clipston. C.B. Knight of the Legion of Honour, Late D.Q.M. General in Ireland and of the Cavalry Division in the Crimea, 1854-55. Alma, Light Brigade Cavalry Charge at Balaclava, and Inkerman.
Born 31st of Augt 1808 — Died 1st of Jany 1873.
'And now, Lord, what is my hope. Truly my hope is even in thee.'
MAJOR-GENERAL WYNELL-MAYOW. George Wynell-Mayow, C.B., of Bray, Cornwall, and Clipston, Norfolk, Major-General in the Army, formerly of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and recently Deputy Quartermaster-General at Dublin, died suddenly, on the 1st inst. This gallant officer, who entered the Army in 1852, served in the Crimea, 1854 to 1856, as Brigade-Major to the Light Cavalry Brigade, and was appointed Quartermaster-General of the Cavalry Division. He was born, Aug. 31, 1808, the eldest son of Philip Wynell-Mayow, Esq., of Bray, Cornwall, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Colonel Charles Deare, and was the representative of the old Cornish family of Mayow. He married, Aug. 16, 1842, Jane Elizabeth, daughter of the Eight Rev. Samuel Kyle, D.D., Bishop of Cork, but was left widower, without issue, in 1848.
[Source: BNA: Death of GWM, ILN, 18 Jan 1873.]
GWM is named on a memorial tablet to the Mayow family in the St Wenna, Morval, Cornwall [EJB had: Norval Church, Devonshire]:
[PB: FOLLOW UP: Check against original typescript as there is no "Norval Church" in Devon (r Cornwall). EJB's index of officers' photographs also records "Mayow: Family memorial tablet to George Wynell Mayow in the parish church of St. Wenns at Morwall, Cornwall (photo_officer_brig_0005) CHECK.]
"George Wynell Mayow, Major-General. C.B. of Bray and Clipston, Northamptonshire. He served throughout the war in the Crimea 1854-6 and was present at the Battles of the Alma, Balaklava, Light Cavalry Charge (the six hundred), Inkerman [PB: Sebastopol?]. He died January 1st. 1873, aged 64."
[CHECK TRANSCRIPTION — the photograph is poor. Can we get another?]
[TRANSCRIPTION TO BE COMPLETED...]
IN HOC [...]
TO THE [...]
PHILIP WYNELL MAYOW of Bray [...]
ELIZABETH his Wife
JOHN WYNELL MAYOW who died [...]
GEORGE WYNELL MAYOW Major-General CB[?] of Bray and of Capston [...]
He served throughout the war in the Crimea 1854 — 56 and was [...]
Alma — Balaklava — Light Cavalry Charge (the six hundred [...]
He died January 1st 1873 Aged 64 [?]
also
Elizabeth Jane — his Wife ...
...
etc etc
REQUIESCANT IN PACE
I am the Resurrection and the Life
[PB: GWM's will was mentioned in the North Devon Gazette (Barnstaple), where he was described as having lived in "Bray, North Devon". I suspect this was a journalist's confusion with the nearby Devon village of "High Bray", and the river Bray. EJB's notes also say Bray, Devon.]
The will of the late Major-General George Wynell Mayow, C.B , of Bray, North Devon, has been proved by his brothers, the executors, the Rev. M. W. Mayow and the Rev. P. W. Mayow. The general is succeeded in his landed property by his next brother, the Rev. M. W. Mayow. The personalty was sworn under £14,000.
[Source: BNA: North Devon Gazette 14 March 1873..]
[Source: Photo: Sandy Hall. Uploaded 22.2.2009 to a Rootschat forum here (accessed 30.6.2018)]
To which "Ken" replied:
From the 1862 Army List:
Colonel Mayow served throughout the Eastern Campaign of 1854-55, first as Brigade Major of the Light Cavalry Brigade to 19th Dec. 1854, including the affairs of Bulganac and McKenzie's Farm, and battles of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman, and afterwards from the 20th Dec. to the end of the War as Assist. Qr. Master General of the Cavalry Division, including the night attack on the Russian outposts on 19th Feb. 1855, battle of the Tchernaya, and the siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal and Clasp, Knight of the Legion of Honor, Sardinian and Turkish Medals, and 4th Class of the Medjidie).
He was first commissioned on 9 June 1825, and in 1862 was Qr. Master General at the Curragh.
[There is a much larger version here (3.4Mb). ADD an image of the reverse, that explains the source of this image.]
[PB: In June 2018 I chanced upon a reference to the restoration and re-dedication of George Mayow's tomb at Clipston that had recently taken place. There was seemingly very litle information online so I emailed clipston.org with a request for further info. I was speedily contacted by Jim Tyson, editor of the Clipston Courier, who sent fine photographs he had taken of the event and of the tomb, and links to local press. I have copied and pasted a number of related links. SORT AND EDIT.]
Major General George Mayow — service of dedication, 5th June 2018
(Click on image to enlarge)
There will be a service of dedication of the restored tomb of Major General George Mayow.
Tuesday 5th June 2018 at 10:30am
In the All Saints Churchyard, Clipston
All Welcome
[Source: Clipston.org: Major-General George Mayow, Service of dedication 5 June 2018 (accessed 30.6.2018).]
Jim Tyson wrote:
Good to hear of your interest in Major-General George Wynell Mayow.
The short article on our website will be updated in due course with further information.
Have attached the two photos that were submitted to the local Harborough Mail newspaper.
-6_1200.jpg)
-1_1200.jpg)
- Filename: Major General George Wynell Mayow (Grave re-dedication 180605)-1.jpg_(This image shows the details on the tomb)
- Filename: Major General George Wynell Mayow (Grave re-dedication 180605)-6.jpg_(This image shows the service being held in front of the tomb with the Clipston British Legion Flag ready to being lowered)
Link to their online article: Harborough Mail: Clipston re-dedicates grave of villager who took part in famous light brigade charge.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 5, at the grave of Major-General George Wynell Mayow, which had fallen into disrepair.
He returned to the village in 1856, where he received a tremendous welcome and dinner on the village green, this story was covered in a local newspaper and hopefully I will be able to find a full copy of it shortly.
He died on New Year's Day, 1873, at the age of 64 in the parish of Gilmorton, near Leicester, and was buried in Clipston churchyard on January 8, 1873.
I am currently trying to research him for an article in our village newsletter later this year and so far only been able to find outline details of his marriage and wife's death and the affidavit that he gave on the 30th May 1863 of the events on the 25th October 1854.
Would be grateful if you could offer further details and any possible images of him that you may have found.
Look forward to hearing from you and any help that you could give would be appreciated.
Best regards,
Jim
Jim Tyson
Clipston Courier (Editor)
Village website: www.clipston.org
In September 2018Jim Tyson forwarded a pdf of the fine 4-page article he and colleagues had produced about GWM, which included information from the EJBA. It can be downloaded here (Jim_Tyson_Mayow_Courier_Connections_Supplement_1_Sept_2018_Crimean_Hero_Final.pdf).
Tomb of war hero re-dedicated at ceremony
Tom Percival, BBC Radio Northampton
The tomb of a major general from Clipston who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 has been rededicated at a special ceremony today.
(Click on image to enlarge)
George Mayow survived the battle, returned to Clipston a hero, and died on New Year's Day 1873.
A two-year campaign to raise money for the restoration was led by Rose Anderson and her late husband Lawrie Anderson.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Mrs Anderson said local people had been "very generous" with donations after an appeal in the village newsletter.
The charge of British light cavalry was led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War.
[Source: BBC News: Clipston: Tomb of war hero re-dedicated at ceremony (accessed 30.6.2018).]
Village school reaches its 350th anniversary! — Harborough Mail https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/.../village-school-reaches-its-350th-anniversary-1-...
22 Jul 2017 — They are also raising money to refurbish the Clipston grave of a local worthy: Major General George Wynell Mayow, who took part in the ...
Clipston re-dedicates grave of villager who took part in famous Light ... https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/.../clipston-re-dedicates-grave-of-villager-who-too...
11 Jun 2018 — The ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 5, at the grave of Major-General George Wynell Mayow, which had fallen into disrepair.
[Photograph in Harborough Mail, 11 June 2018, https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/clipston-re-dedicates-grave-of-villager-who-took-part-in-famous-light-brigade-charge-1-8529691. 30.6.18 — the link to the article ad photograph was not working. Photograph: Jim Tyson.]
The editors are very grateful to Douglas Austin for locating George Mayow's account of the Charge, and providing a transcription (June 2018). So far as we know, this account has never previously been made public.
Death registration kindly provided by Chris Poole.
[PB: Consider this, from Cardigan's correspondence with A.W. Kinglake [DATE ETC?].
My goodness Cardigan's hostile to Mayow! He accuses Mayow of lying in his affidavit ("the greater part is invention"), cowardice ("he did nothing, but ride towards the enemy and retreat as fast as he could when he met them "), dereliction of duty ("Col. Mayow ought to have accompanied me the General Officer of his Brigade"), and vanity ("In all my experience I never heard of such a piece of vain boasting as that").
[Presumably because GWM, by rallying a small group of men and attacking the Russians so vigorously, implied that Cardigan himself had not led his men well — that having lost contact with everyone, Cardigan could not rally them, and had failed personally to engage with the Russians?]]
It will not be necessary for me to prove to you that I led the first line of the Brigade into the Russian battery a head of every body as was my proper place — that as I led on, my line did not follow me — but the Survivors bore off to the left & most of them retired —
I have told you that after returning from the Cossacks who wounded me and nearly took me Prisoner that on retiring thro' the battery from whence I came, none of our Troops were to be seen; and that I consequently returned at the slowest possible pace the main party of my first line were in the act of forming up —
I omitted to swear in my affidavit that from the moment I retreated thro' the guns after being engaged with the Cossacks, and finding no Brigade there and no Troops to be seen either to the right or left, I moved my horse till I got to Genl. Scarlett at the slowest possible pace — and that afterwards then I galloped to the point of rendezvous -
I beg to call your attention to Colonel Mayow's Affidavit — I have no doubt but that the greater part is invention, and that he did nothing, but ride towards the enemy and retreat as fast as he could when he met them —
The enclosed is a copy of the opinion of an Officer who was wounded and taken Prisoner in the charge — Col. Mayow ought to have accompanied me the General Officer of his Brigade
[SOURCE? MEANING?]
[PB: Is this the enclosure referred to above?]
The contempt Cardigan expresses towards Mayo in the enclosure is even more severe.
The wind up of his case in the publication of his Affidavits I look upon and so do all military men that I have spoken to, as the lowest part of the whole of his very bad cause, for the Evidence of his main Witness as to his own doings is so Quixotic as to be absolutely laughable —
How exceedingly gullible Colonel Mayow must think people to be when he tells them that with some half dozen Lancers he voluntarily charged in to about 3000 Russian Cavalry & threw them back upon their Second Reserve!! and only retreated when he found that the enemy was too strong to be dealt with by his brave force of six -
In all my experience I never heard of such a piece of vain boasting as that
[SOURCE? MEANING?]
[PB: What does Kinglake say about Mayow? There is a copy of his 6-volume Invasion of the Crimea online here. Mayow is mentioned repeatedly in Kinglake's analysis of the Charge in Vol.5, pp.217, 269-71, 284-86, 296-98, 331.]
[PB: George Paget, The Light Cavalry Brigade in the Crimea (London, 1881), mentions Mayow several times, though not at length:
March 26 [ 1855].-- An alarm this morning at 3 A.M. The Balaclava garrison put into position, the cause, I hear, being a report from some deserters that we are to be attacked some morning.
I was awoke by the bullseyes of two lanterns presented, at my pillow, with the faces of Mayow and Sterling looking over them. Those who are familiar with the appearance of these two excellent officers will not be surprised at my thinking that my last hour was come, when waked out of sleep by such an apparition!
Those who are familiar with the appearance of these two excellent officers will not be surprised at my thinking that my last hour was come, when waked out of sleep by such an apparition!
No cavalry man was ever heard to say anything against Lord Lucan; all had respect for his military character, and all sympathised with him on his recall. And this evidence in his favour, as regards his conduct on this occasion, is all the stronger from the fact that the impetuosity of his character, and the severity of his tone, would rather have biassed those under his command against him.
I confess also to a personal bias towards Lord Lucan, from the impression made in my mind always of his sense of truth, in the emphatic way in which he always spoke, coupled as that is with the indefatigable way in which he always performed that which he considered his duty. When he was hard on those under him, he was equally hard on himself,* knowing no repose, night or day, for himself, yet full of consideration for those whose welfare was in his hands, even though his command may occasionally have savoured somewhat of roughness.
I shall conclude these remarks by recording the words of an excellent soldier [Mayow], as typical of the feelings with which he was regarded by all. In the autumn of 1855 the cavalry were ordered to winter in the Bosphorus, during which period it was my privilege to see a good deal of that great man, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe.
It is a fact not generally known that Lord Lucan received a contused wound on his leg on this day. I can bear witness to the fact, having seen it, and to the fact that for two or three days he was obliged to lie with it stretched on his bed. But he would not allow it to be reported, though he was forced to limp about for many days.
Being interested in the events of the war, it was natural that we should have many conversations on this, at the time, all-absorbing subject. One of these conversations turned to the subject of Lord Lucan, when I concluded my panegyric of him by saying, "But wait till Colonel Mayow* returns; he can tell you more about him than I can — having been on his staff, and therefore in a position to judge of him better than I can."
On Colonel Mayow's return from England I related to him this conversation, asking him some day to call with me on Lord Stratford. Colonel Mayow's remark was, "Lord Lucan — all I can say of him is, that he not only thought of his cavalry by day, but he dreamt of them by night."
* Colonel Mayow was Assistant-Quarter-Master-General to the cavalry, and when this conversation took place he was absent in England on leave. He bore a very high reputation, and I fancy had not had "a bed of roses" under Lord Lucan, which makes his testimony the more pointed.
ADD
[PB: Terry Brighton, Hell Riders (2004), discusses GWM's role in the Charge in some detail. Index references pp.145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 155, 160, 162, 163, 278, 281-3.]
[PB, 22.7.18: I chanced upon a spirited, robustly foul-mouthed account of the Charge, by Ben Thompson, with GWM as the central figure. (By the way, the term "badass" is laudatory.)]
Representative extracts:
On the morning of 25 October 1854, outside the quiet town of Balaclava (not to be confused with Baklava, a delicious Greek dessert pastry), the 673 cavalrymen of the British 4th Light Dragoons, 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars stood at the mouth of a seriously hellacious valley staring at their own suddenly-salient mortality.
Atop the large sloped hill on the left side of this ridiculously-deadly valley sat a couple ominous-looking batteries of Russian cannons, all pointing down into the flat grassland below, daring the cavalrymen to approach.
To the right, Britain's Turkish allies had just been driven out of their trenches by a massive onslaught of Russian face-stabbing insanity, and the guns they'd abandoned while getting shanked in the eye had now been commandeered and re-appropriated for the Russian cause.
Directly across the floor of the valley, nearly a mile away, the English cavalry was staring down the giant black muzzles of a few dozen artillery pieces that definitely seemed as though there were not fucking around. As if this wasn't soul-crushing enough, behind those guns lie the main body of the Russian Army — six regiments of cavalry and roughly twenty battalions of infantry.
The Light Brigade had its orders. Take the guns, immediately.
The unit's second-in-command, Major George Mayow, wasn't the man responsible for this obviously horrific, Stooges-grade clusterfuck of a blunder that he knew would be destined to lead hundreds of brave cavalrymen to a multi-flavored assortment gruesome deaths. He was a soldier. An officer in the service of the Queen. All he could do now was carry out his objectives, press the attack to the best of his ability, lead his troops through a gauntlet of cannon fire, maintain discipline, and bring his boys back as alive as possible.
What would result from his (and the rest of the Light Brigade's) actions is not only one of the more intense moments in the storied legacy of the British armed forces, but in all of military history itself.
An unbelievably daring, borderline-foolhardy suicide charge against impossible odds, carried out without a single complaint, and executed with a greater degree of success than anyone could possibly have hoped for, Major Mayow made damn sure that the five regiments of the Light Brigade set an example to the world on that fateful day of the true meaning of bravery, heroism, having badass Iron Maiden songs written about you, and not saying shit to your dumbass commanding officer even when he gives you an order that's completely fucking retarded...
Despite full-well knowing that his commanding officer didn't know the difference between his dick and a garden hose, Mayow had a job to do, and as a career military hardass he wasn't about to start questioning orders now. When the bugle sounded the charge and the unit's commander — General Sir Lordship Master Earl James Brudenell of Cardigan, the Seventh Earl of Cardigan — led the charge, George Mayow was the second man in formation, spurring his horse straight ahead at the gallop and blitzing balls-out on a suicide charge of goddamned epic proportions. Every man in the Brigade followed. They kept their formation perfectly...
Amazingly, however, despite the obscene odds, the Light Brigade didn't slow down. They didn't turn back. Fuck, they didn't even flinch — these fearless hardasses pressed on, driving at the Russian cannons ahead, determined to slice those canister-loading motherfuckers into shark chum with a few well-places saber hacks to the brain pan as soon as those chumps were within striking distance.
Against all possible odds (and at a head-crushingly obscene cost, I might add) the Light Brigade reached the Russian positions — crossing a mile-long kill-zone of non-stop cannon fire and crashing into the artillery crew on the far end of the hellacious highway of mutilation and dismemberment.
Most of the Russian gunners were understandably mind-fucked by the fact that the cavalry survived their barrages, so they dropped their shit and ran for it. This didn't help — most of them were slashed down as they fled. Others tried to valiantly make a stand, but the Brits were too jacked up on adrenaline — they dismembered those poor suckers so efficiently that after just a few minutes of hand-to-hand combat the artillerymen on the hills (seeing how badly the guys on the ground were getting fucked up) just started firing cannonballs right into the melee, hitting friend and foe alike.
It was here that Major George Mayow really stepped up as a serious badass. After cleaving his way through the gun crews, the executive officer of the Brigade looked around through the smoke and realized that Lord Cardigan was nowhere to be found.
With the commanding officer nowhere in sight (Cardigan was off either swordfighting Russian cavalrymen or running for it like a bitch, depending on who you ask), Mayow took charge of the situation. He stood up in his saddle, waved his blood-soaked saber, shouted, and rallied all the survivors in earshot. Just fifteen Lancers and twelve Dragoons responded. All were enlisted men, as virtually every officer in the first wave had been killed, wounded, or unhorsed en route to the Russian artillery.
Mayow ordered his men into formation and then, through the smoke and fire, he suddenly spotted four regiments of Russian cavalry arranged in a battle line a mere one hundred yards away. At first he was a little surprised, but Mayow quickly (and correctly) realized that these guys were just sitting there waiting for the British to turn back so that they could ride them down from behind and slaughter them.
Well not today. The Brigade Major slowly looked around at the 27 men behind him, turned back to the 300-plus Russians ahead of him, and ordered a full-on charge...
The Russians lost their nerve and bolted. Mayow and his men cut many of them down as they fled.
This second victory would be short-lived as well, however, as the fleeing Russians retreated back to the nearby river, where a second — even larger — line of cavalry was waiting. And these guys weren't as impressed with the British show of force.
For a brief moment, there was a somewhat-surreal standoff. Mayow brought his men to the halt, and now they stared out, bloodied, bashed-up, and berserking, at a line of something like two thousand fucking Russian Cossacks and Hussars. The Russians were content to wait — a second column of cavalry was on its way down from the heights to cut off the British retreat, and it took Mayow a moment to notice it. Fuckity-shit.
Mayow and his men slowly backed away, careful not to turn his back on the men in front of him, and when he thought he was a pretty safe distance he ordered his men to turn and get the fuck out of there. Haul ass, but stay in formation, three-across. Don't give them the benefit of thinking they've broken our force, or the British spirit. Because, seriously, fuck those guys.
Mayow and his survivors weren't quick enough to avoid the second column, but they didn't let it stop them — they just lowered their sabers, crashed through the incoming Russian horsemen, and then hauled ass back through the valley of death again.
The surviving British cavalrymen got a little bit of help from the French during their return, when a French cavalry unit circled around the guns on the left side of the valley and attacked the Russians from behind while they fired down on Mayow's men, but honestly at this point it was like someone throwing you an umbrella while you're drowning in the Pacific Ocean. Like, thanks guys, but seriously where the fuck was that twenty minutes ago. Plus, the handful of Russian gunners who survived the Light Brigade's beatdown returned to their guns as soon as the British left, and now they were trying to ram cannonballs up the Dragoons' asses as they headed out of there.
Despite extreme exhaustion, wounds, and other bullshit, Mayow's column returned to Allied lines.
All told, less than half of the Light Brigade reported for duty the following morning. Mayow and the first wave had taken the brunt of the damage, but every regiment in the charge suffered at least forty to fifty percent casualties. Despite the near-annihilation of the entire Brigade, and their inability to take an impossible-to-take position, the actions of the Light Brigade at Balaclava is now forever remembered as one of the most badass and valiant charges ever undertaken.
Queen Victoria herself was so pumped up after hearing the story of the Light Brigade's heroism and bravery in the face of certain death that she decided to create a special award to honor the British heroes who had fought so bravely on the field that day. She had an English metalworker melt down a couple of the Russian cannons that had been captured by the Light Brigade, re-cast them into medals, and named her new honor the Victoria Cross.
"The English fought with astounding bravery, and when we approached their dismounted and wounded men, even these refused to surrender and continued to fight till the ground was soaked with their blood."
- Lieutenant Koribut Kubitovich, Imperial Russian Army.
[Source: Ben Thompson, Badass of the Week: George Mayow (accessed 22.7.2018, archived here). He cites Terry Brighton (Hell Riders) and Laurence Crider (In Search ...).
Acccording to his website (badassoftheweek.com), Ben Thompson is author of Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters and Military Commanders to Ever Live (HarperCollins, 2009), and a sequel, Badass: The Birth of a Legend: Spine-Crushing Tales of the Most Merciless Gods, Monsters, Heroes, Villains, and Mythical Creatures Ever Envisioned (HarperCollins, 2011).]
[PB: Check Charles Fort's reference to General Mayow's death as an example of something or other rather spooky. I have downloaded the extracts e.g. from sacredtexts.com. See Archive.org: Charles Fort books. Fort is commemorated and celebrated in the Fortean Times etc. See also e.g. Wikipedia: Charles Fort.]
[PB: Writing in 1933, Charles Fort included in his Wild Talents numerous astounding coincidences that seem connected but have no obvious explanation. That GWM's death in a hunting fall (reported in the New York Times) occurred around the same time as several others seemed to Fort more than the product of chance, and he hints at some kind of malevolent destructive force powered by "mass psychology").]
New York Times, Jan. 26, 1873 — that, in England, during the Pytchley hunt, Gen. Mayow fell dead from his saddle, and that about the same time, in Gloucestershire, the daughter of the Bishop of Gloucestershire, while hunting, was seriously injured; and that, upon the same day, in the north of England, a Miss Cavendish, while hunting, was killed. Not long afterward, a clergyman was killed, while hunting, in Lincolnshire. About the same time, two hunters, near Sanders' Gorse, were thrown, and were seriously injured.
In one of my incurable, scientific moments, I suggest that when diverse units, of, however, one character in common, are similarly affected, the incident force is related to the common character. But there is no suggestion that any visible hater of fox-hunters was traveling in England, pulling people from saddles, and tripping horses. But that there always has been intense feeling, in England, against fox-hunters is apparent to anyone who conceives of himself as a farmer — and his fences broken, and his crops trampled by an invasion of red coats — and a wild desire to make a Bunker Hill of it.
[Source: Charles Fort, Wild Talents, [1933], at sacred-texts.com, pp.859-860. Saved in EJBA as Fort_NewLands_Lo_WildTalents.pdf]
Charles H. Fort (1874-1932) was an investigator of unusual and anomalous phenomena. The three works in this file, New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931), and Wild Talents (1933), are collections of data from scientific journals, newspapers and periodicals, loosely categorized by Fort and commented on in his humorous style. Fort is considered the Father of modern UFO studies. Compiled by Robert Bedrosian, October, 2016, in 675 bookmarked and searchable pdf pages.
Fort's other important work, Book of the Damned (1919), may be downloaded from Internet Archive here: Fort's Book of the Damned, at archive.org.
Fort's Complete Works are available for reading online: CompleteWorks of Charles Fort, at sacred-texts.com.
In 1787 the Mayow family had acquired the Old House in Sydenham Road, which reputedly dated from c.1660, and in 1810 purchased c.21.8 hectares of land, c.7 hectares of which later became Mayow Park. The family owned most of the land between Sydenham Road and Perry Vale and by the beginning of the C19th Major Mayow Wynell Adams was the official Squire of Sydenham. His estate to the north of Sydenham Road remained in his family until the area was developed for housing.
A younger branch of the family developed Silverdale and the last occupant of the house, Mayow Wynell Adams, developed the area that included Mayow Road and Dacres Road. In 1877 he sold land for a new park to Lewisham Board of Works for £8500, £3520 of which was raised by public subscription. He died in 1898, and a lych-gate in his memory is located at St Bartholomew's churchyard (q.v.). The Old House was demolished at the turn of the century and Earlsthorpe Road was built on the site.
[Source: LondonGardensOnline: Mayow Park]