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

1125, Private Robert RIDGE — 17th Lancers

Also recorded as "Robert Roe" (an alias), but his real name appears to have been George Ridge.

Birth & early life

Born in Lancaster c.1833.

Enlistment

Enlisted at London on the 28th of May 1852 under the alias of "Robert Roe."

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Servant.

Service

Allowed to revert to his real name of "George Ridge" by War Office Authority letter dated the 11th of March 1854.

Tried by a District Court-martial on the 3rd of November 1854 for "being drunk on piquet duty," and given 50 lashes.

[PB: Notice this is just a week after the Charge.]

Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 10th of July 1855 for "being absent from duty," and given 50 lashes.

Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 20th of August 1855 for "habitual drunkenness". Given 50 lashes and awarded stoppage of pay for 84 days.

Tried by a District Court-martial for a civil offence on the 28th of December 1855, "disgraceful conduct: theft", and was awarded 84 days imprisonment and to forfeit all rights to Good Conduct badges, payments, and pension rights on discharge.

Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 26th of October 1856 for "habitual drunkenness" and awarded 50 lashes and stoppage of 1d.per day for 6 months.

[PB: Notice the date. Did he get drunk to commemorate (or otherwise recollect) the Charge, two years before?]

Discharge & pension

Discharged as "Worthless" from Dublin on the 7th of November 1856.

Served 4 years 61 days.

Conduct and character: "Very bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.

Medals

He is named as "Robert Ridge" on the Alma/Inkerman and Balaclava rolls.

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

(There is a photograph of his medals in the 17th Lancer file. [PB Which auction? Date?])

(Click on image to enlarge)

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Life after service

1881 Census

26A, Great Aversham Street, Preston, Lancashire.

The 1881 Census shows a Robert Ridge, a Commercial Traveller, aged 52, born at Downham, Lancashire, living with his wife, Sarah A., 56, born at Cropredy, Oxfordshire, together with two unmarried daughters, 31 and 24 years, and a grandson, 5, a Scholar.

1891 Census

Possible Census entry?

Robert Ridge, age 60, Downham, Lancashire, Accrington, Caretaker Bank.

Death & burial

No information.