Service
[RM: Yeo Interview — see Terry Brighton, Hell Riders, page 227, for the case for his inclusion as a Charger.]
[PB: In his pamphlet (see below), JR includes a copy of a letter from Lieutenant-General Roger Palmer, 11th Hussars, testifying to JR's participation in the Charge. However, there were three John Richardsons in the 11th Hussars. 1527 JR died 24 Sept 1854. The Balaclava period muster says 1443 JR was "in hospital" at the time, though other notes say he was sent from Scutari to rejoin the regiment 3rd October. (He died 9th February 1855.) Is it possible RP confused them?]
From LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ROGER PALMER
Glenisland, Maidenhead, 28th July, 1886.
The bearer of this, JOHN RICHARDSON, was in my troop of the 11th Hussars; and served all through the Crimean War, and was in the Balaclava Charge. He was a well-conducted man, and is, I believe, a deserving object for charity.
ROGER PALMER, Lieut.-General (formerly Lieutenant) 11th Hussars.
At Scutari: 4th of April — 11th of May 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 4th of January 1856 for "being drunk on duty" and sentenced to 56 days' imprisonment with hard labour.
"Absent" from Canterbury from the 29th of November 1856. He rejoined the regiment on the 5th of December 1856.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Hounslow on the 19th of December 1857 for "Desertion." Awarded 84 days' imprisonment and to be marked with the letter "D".
Tried by a District Court-martial at Dublin on the 11th of December 1861 for "Desertion and losing his necessaries", and sentenced to four years' imprisonment.
"A Balaclava Hero"
While he was in Crumpsall Workhouse at Manchester during the latter part of his life, he was the subject of an interview by a journalist for Spy magazine, later published in pamphlet form as "A Balaclava Hero. Workhouse Interview. Fifty lashes with the cat! Mr John Richardson".
[CHECK DATE etc. Is it 25th June 1892? Terry Brighton, Hell Riders, p227, says the interview was carried out in 1890 by "H. Yeo, publisher of The Spy, a popular penny newspaper". There is a copy of this in the "Memoirs" file.]
John Richardson, interviewed in Spy magazine, date?
There are images of all 6 pages, and a complete pdf, in the archive. There s a transcript by PB here.
(Click on image to enlarge)
In the article and pamphlet John Richardson briefly describes enlistment, the journey out to the Crimea, the battle of the Alma, and goes into some detail about the Charge at Balaclava and scenes of "magnificent carnage" and body "plundering" at Inkerman. (A letter in the pamphlet from Sir Roger Palmer says that he (Richardson) served in his troop during the Charge.)
He claims to have had his horse shot under him at Balaclava, and to have received two slight wounds in the left arm from lances. A horse was also killed under him at Inkerman. (He appears on the Nominal Roll under the 11th Hussars as being wounded, but appears on the official "Casualty List" under the 17th Lancers).
He describes the deaths at Inkerman of General Cathcart, Lieutenant Cleveland [Clevland] of the 17th Lancers, and 1265 "Jock" Wright, who was a particular friend of his. He also mentions that "Sergeant Rose ... had his arm 'removed'" as a result of the Charge. (This was obviously Sergeant John Breese.) The interviewer asks:
"Did you win any stripes?"
"Only on my back, sir. The lords of Chelsea have stated that they cannot do anything for me, because I was discharged for misconduct. Well, I wish to explain what I did.
It is thirty-four years ago, when I was in Hulme Barracks. I was absent for six days, and the adjutant called me a scamp, when I returned. I replied, 'I am not like you — a coward. I saw you run from mounted Cossacks; and further, you never went down in the Charge.'
After this I was up to the neck in trouble, and eventually I was tried, and got fifty lashes, and ordered to be imprisoned. My back took bad ways and festered, and I was in the hospital twenty-eight days.
During that time a letter sent out of the hospital to an editor, was published, describing how they flogged me in the riding school, like a dog. The colonel employed lawyers and endeavoured to get the writer's name, but the editor would not give way.
My father, being an educated man, wrote to the Duke of Cambridge, and he ordered me to be liberated and discharged at once. My father wrote thanking H.R.H. for his kindness, and I had a letter from H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, saying how sorry he was for me, and he showed his sympathy by sending an order for five pounds...
I was the last man flogged in the Hulme Barracks. Had I stopped in the regiment, I would never had any peace."
A soldier in the American Civil War?
Intriguingly, and all too briefly, he mentions fighting in the American Civil War after his discharge in 1862:
"[I]n 1863, I volunteered and fought in the war between the Northern and Southern States of America. I served in the New Jersey (US) Volunteers as a substitute for an American Gentleman residing in this country. I fought at the battle of Pittsburg [sic], after which General Lu [sic] surrendered at Nashville. I returned home in '65."
A "John Richardson" is mentioned in the History of the New Jersey Volunteers.
__________
[PB: However, there are some problems with the chronology given in A Balaclava Hero, which does not tie in very exactly with John Richardson's disciplinary record outlined above.
Discharge: this appears to have occurred not in 1862 but 1864 (he was in prison for 4 years from December 1861 to May 1864).
Desertion: There is a period of "six days" absence, for which he was punished, but this was in Canterbury in 1856. There were other periods of desertion in Hounslow (1857) and Dublin (1861), but nothing associated with Hulme Barracks in Manchester.
Civil War: JR mentions volunteering to fight in the US in 1863 but he was in prison until his discharge in May 1864. Furthermore, the Battle of Pittsburg (presumably Pittsburg Landing, also know as the Battle of Shiloh, on the bank of the Tennessee River) took place on April 6th-7th 1862.]
__________
The Workhouse
According to JR's account, on his return to England he worked for some years as a Labourer but failing sight and the loss of his wife forced him into the Union. He stated that at that time his medals were in pawn.
The overwhelming feeling throughout the pamphlet is one of outrage — that many old soldiers, having been led to expect support after their military service was over, are now paupers:
"Is it true that Lord Cardigan made a promise to you concerning the future?"
"Yes, sir: that was the roll-call after it was all over, He said it was certain that every man who rode in that charge would be provided for, and (continued the old man with a painfully cynical chuckle, as he glanced down at his workhouse clothes) they have provided for us."
[PB: Incidentally, he is known to have written to Cardigan's widow seeking work, as her reply was subsequently reprinted in A Balaclava Hero.]
"From The Countess of Cardigan
Cardigan Lodge
Newmarket
October 24th 1883
The Countess of Cardigan is obliged to John Richardson for his letter and the enclosure. She is very sorry not to have any place to offer him, but sends him a post-office order for £3."
Men in a Manchester workhouse, 1890s
Source: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Manchester/
The journalist continues:
"Oh, you soldiers of England, when next you are called upon to fight, think of those workhouse corduroys. Think how the glories of Balaclava end. Think what a happy land is England. And ask yourselves — just ask yourselves, civilly — the inquiry the late Lord Lord Tennyson inquired some time ago:
'WHEN CAN THEIR GLORY FADE?'"
[PB: Elsewhere in the pamphlet is an anonymous poem, "Matches", which describes with heavy sarcasm the misery of old soldiers forced to sell matches on the street, while the famous lines of Tennyson's poem are nightly being declaimed in "homes of wealth and luxury, of revel and delight".]
"... the speaker's voice rising "loud and high, 'When can their glory fade?'
While out in the gutter, dying, lay one of the Light Brigade."
The full text of "Matches" can be read here.
For poems from the same period with a similar sentiment, see Ann Rosslyn's "One of the Light Brigade" (here), and Rudyard Kipling's "The Last of the Light Brigade" (here).
Death & burial
Death registered
John Richardson, aged 70, September Quarter 1897, Prestwich.
He died in the Workhouse at Crumpsall, Manchester, on the 20th of July 1897 and was buried in Philips Park Cemetery.
The records of Philips Park Cemetery in Hulme Hall Lane, Manchester, show that he was interred there on the 21st of July 1897 in Grave No. 228, Section "F" (R.C.). His age was given as 70 years, a "Soldier", from the Poor-House (Cheetham parish). The Minister officiating was the Revd. J. J. Welch.
"Mode of burial — Single." According to the Cemetery Superintendent "Single" means a "Common grave" as opposed to a "Private" one. He was buried with ten others who had died as paupers in the Workhouse. (See earlier paragraph relating to his not being buried in a "pauper's" grave.)
There is a photograph of the grave-area in the 11th Hussar file.
To be added...
(Click on image to enlarge)
The following letter, from Major Robert Ballantine, Master of the Crumpsall Workhouse, appeared in the Manchester Evening News on the 23rd of July 1897:
"One of the Six Hundred"
"To the Editor of the Manchester Evening News
Sir, John Richardson, who, whilst a trooper in the 11th Hussars, took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade, being one of the "Noble Six Hundred", died on the 20th inst. and will be interred at Philip's Park cemetery at three o'clock on Saturday next, the 24th July.
As an old soldier, and knowing Richardson for many years, I am desirous that his funeral should be to a certain extent of a military character, and I therefore invite the Crimean veterans of Manchester and District (wearing their medals) to meet the hearse on its arrival at the cemetery and accompany the body to its last resting place.
As this funeral is being carried out by me in my private capacity as a citizen of Manchester, I need not say that poor Richardson will not be interred in a pauper's grave."
From the Army and Navy Gazette, 31st of July 1897:
John Richardson, who was one of the "Six Hundred" in the Light Brigade Charge at Balaclava, was buried in Philips Park Cemetery on Saturday.
Richardson, who had been an inmate of the workhouse since May last, died on the 20th inst. and Major Ballantine, the Master of the Workhouse, determined that he should have a military funeral.
Lieutenant Colonel Croft, Commanding the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own Lancaster Regiment, sent a gun-carriage, on which the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was borne. A wreath of flowers laid on the coffin bore the inscription:
'From Major Ballantine and the Crimean veterans in the Crumpsall Workhouse to our dear comrade who took part in the famous charge and fought and bled for his Queen and Country."
Several hundred people assembled in the cemetery, where Father Deverton (Roman Catholic Priest) read the burial service and a firing-party from the King's Own Regiment fired the usual three volleys over the grave. Major Ballantine was accompanied by Captain Scott, and a number of Service veterans were assembled around the grave.'
Extract from the Manchester Evening News, 24th of July 1897:
"Funeral of One of the Six Hundred"
"A large number of people were assembled at the Philips Park Cemetery this afternoon to witness the funeral of John Richardson, who was one of the famous "Six Hundred".
Richardson, only a few years ago, was a prominent figure in Market Street and on the Infirmary Esplanade, where he tried to earn a living by selling short printed accounts of his life.
Circumstances however, forced him to seek the aid of the workhouse and like so many more of the heroes whose gallantry has placed England in her present proud position, he died within the walls of the Manchester Workhouse.
Major Ballantine, who is its present Master, decided that although this man had died a pauper he should not be buried as such and he incurred the expense of the funeral.
Colonel Crofton, commanding the 4th (King's Own Regiment, stationed at Hulme Barracks, sent a gun-carriage, on which the coffin, covered with a Union Jack, and adorned with a wreath of flowers, was carried to the grave.
A firing-party from the regiment mentioned consisting of fifteen men under Sergeant Wilson, fired three volleys over the grave. In addition to Major Ballantine and Captain Hobbs, several veterans attended the funeral."
From the Illustrated London News, 7th of August 1897:
"John Richardson, a Balaclava hero, has died in the Manchester Workhouse at Crumpsall.
This is not very impressive to readers from a recruiting point of view. To add to the way John Richardson, a pauper in life, was treated in death to all sorts of posthumous honours — A gun-carriage for the coffin — a wreath of flowers — and a firing-party to deliver three volleys over all that was left of this particular man and one of the gallant 600. The glory that gives you the workhouse when you are no longer fit for active service is but a pauper's glory after all."
Later note (EJB)
The "mystery" of the modern tablet placed on his grave has been solved by the appearance of an article by John Lister, of Chadderton, in the Journal of the Crimean Research Society:
"The Erecting of a Headstone to John Richardson"
"I contacted the Royal Hussars (P.W.O) with a view to erecting a headstone on Richardson's grave, and was duly given permission to go ahead. With Richardson being buried in a common grave, I was informed that it would be possible to erect a public gravestone at a cost cheaper than if a private stone were erected. However, there being several people interred in the same grave, the inscription would be limited to three lines only:
"I therefore wrote a three-line inscription which included rank, regiment and "One of the Six Hundred". Upon submitting this I was informed that two problems had arisen:
1. "There may be a problem erecting the stone as the area where Richardson is buried is relatively free from headstones due to a large incidence of common graves."
2. "The inscription, although of three lines, contains more letters than would usually appear on a common grave. As it is a common stone, the cemetery stonemason would carry out the inscribing. By letting a council stonemason do this work it would seem like taking work away from private stonemasons."
The cemetery staff were very sympathetic, and wanted the project to go ahead, but explained there were very strict rules and regulations concerning the running of the cemeteries.
As a result, I had to put in a request to the Registrar, which was passed on the Manchester Council Committee who would consider the request.
After some four months, I was given permission for a public flat stone to be placed on the grave, with the full inscription as requested. This was done at a cost of £64.40, with myself and the Regiment paying £50 each.
The finished stone is sand-coloured, with black lettering. The full inscription (now five lines) being:
IN MEMORY OF
PRIVATE JOHN RICHARDSON
DIED 21ST JULY 1897.
AGED 70 YEARS
11TH HUSSARS.
"ONE OF THE SIX HUNDRED."
This was finally laid down in the first week of October 1988. The date of Richardson's death on the stone is the actual date of burial, as I was unable to discover his correct date of death."
The stone was photographed again in 2000. Laid flat on the ground, it is now, through being covered in grass and leaves, very discoloured. There is a copy of the photograph in the 11th Hussar files.
To be added...
(Click on image to enlarge)
Since 2000 (PB)
Plaques for war soldiers unveiled in Manchester cemetery
24 July 2011
Plaques to honour six men who risked their lives in military action in the 19th and 20th centuries have been unveiled in Manchester.
The brass plaques have been put on display at Philips Park Cemetery.
One honours William Jones who was awarded the Victorian Cross for his part in Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu war in 1879.
Another honours George Stringer who was given the same medal for his actions at Mesopotamia in World War I.
Their plaques had been saved and stored after their original chapel home in Philips Park Cemetery fell in to disrepair.
Manchester residents John Richardson and Richard Brown [1153, Richard Brown 11th Hussars], who fought in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in 1854, are honoured on a third stone.
'Didn't seem right'
John Lyons and Joshua Lodge who survived a siege at Rorke's Drift, but did not receive the Victoria Cross, are honoured on a fourth stone.
The unveiling at a special ceremony at the cemetery earlier follows a seven-year campaign by Sgt Andy Tunnicliffe and others.
He said he visited the cemetery in 2004 wanting to visit one of the servicemen's graves but could not find it:
"We sent them to fight for our country abroad as much as soldiers today," he said. "It just didn't seem right."
"If we are going to put plaques up to commemorate people then they should stay up."
He said he hoped people would see the plaques on display and be encouraged to research their own families.
[Source: http:/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14267737 (accessed 28.11.2012)]
For further coverage of the same event, see also
http:/menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1453036_video-cemetery-salute-to-the-hero-soldiers-from-a-lost-age
Includes video of ceremony.
