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

Added 14.9.2011. Minor edits 1.4.14, 4.4.15.

1200, Private William Drummond RICKARDS — 17th Lancers

Birth & early life

Born at Shurnett [PB: where is this?] c.1836.

Enlistment

Enlisted at London on the 8th of February 1854.

Age: 18.

Height: 5' 6".

Trade: Druggist.

Service

Left for the Crimea from Brighton on the 29th of May and joining the regiment on the 20th of June 1855.

Attached to the 3rd Light Dragoons as a batman to Major General J. C. Chatterton, K.H., 6th of May — 30th of August 1857.

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

The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" from September of the period.

Discharge & pension

Medals & commemorations

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

Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.

W0/25/3251 states; "One Crimean medal with clasp and one Turkish medal sent to next of kin".

Death & burial

Died at Secunderabad, India, on the 30th of July 1860.

The India Office records show him as dying at Secunderabad from "Hepatitis" on the 30th of July 1860, aged 24 years. He was buried on the same day by the Revd. J.D. Ostrehaus, Chaplain.


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