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

Added 26.11.12. Minor edits 2.4.14. New info. added 12.11.2018. 17.2.2020.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1484, Private William ROBERTS — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born at Cropwell, near Bingham, Nottingham.

Enlistment

Enlisted at London on the 20th of February 1851.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Farrier.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Brown hair.

Service

William Roberts wrote to his sister about the Charge in January 1855:

Camp, near Balaclava,

20th of January 1855.

Dear Sister,

I now take the favourable opportunity of writing these few lines hoping to find you in the enjoyment of full health, as it leaves me at the present time, God be thanked for it. Dear Sister, I hope that when I tell you how I have been you will excuse me for not writing to you before. I have been very ill indeed for some time back, but I am a good deal better now. Dear Sister, I suppose you will have heard about the battle of Balaclava. I was engaged, but thank God I escaped without a scratch.

We were attacked about half-past seven on the morning of the 25th of October. The Turks, who had batteries on the hills, kept them in check for better more than an hour and a half, but then they ran away, but in doing so unfortunately left a good position in the hands of the Russians. However, we retired a little way and the Heavy Brigade halted and first charged them, the Light Brigade moving on under the French entrenchments. The Heavy Brigade done a little mischief amongst them and as they retired the French fired a good few shots amongst them.

Then the Light Brigade was brought up and charged a number of guns between the hills. The enemy advanced and opened up a tremendous cross-fire upon us and taking men and horses out of the ranks... [Here the paper is creased and the writing cannot be deciphered.] The same fire was upon us coming back as going down and we alone lost upwards of 60 men and a good deal more horses as well.

I cannot for the moment give you any account of Inkerman, but I will in my very next letter. Let me know if you heard from London lately.

I remain,

Your affectionate bro.,

William Roberts,

4th Light Dragoons.

[Source: Copy of letter sent to EJB by WR's great-grandson Mr. Richard Pike (1980s?) See Further information, below.]

Marriage

Next of kin: Wife, Jane Roberts. Is shown on the Regimental "married roll" from the 4th of March 1857. They were two known children by the 31st of March 1873. Two other children, Robert and Catherine, would appear to have died young.

William, born on the 15th of May 1859.

George, born on the 27th of March 1864.

From Private to Farrier (as Sergeant) on the 4th of February 1860.

Re-engaged for a further 12-year period of service on the 1st of March 1863.

Embarked aboard the Serapia at Portsmouth for service in India on the 15th of October 1867.

Appointed to Farrier-Major, 10th of July 1868.

Resigned to Farrier-Sergeant, 11th of July 1869.

Re-appointed to Farrier-Major, 10th of October 1871.

Embarked from India for England on the 23rd of March 1874, having left Rawalpindi en route for Bombay on the 11th of February 1874.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Canterbury on the 20th of February 1875: "Free, at own request, after 21 years' service."

Served 23 years 337 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months

In India: 6 years 10 months.

Conduct: "very good".

In possession of one Good Conduct badge when promoted and would now have had five.

Aged 43 years on discharge.

Awarded a pension of 2/2d. per day.

Medals

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

Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal with a gratuity of £5 on the 7th of July 1869.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps, the Turkish Medal and the L.S. & G.C medal.

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Life after service

He said he intended to live at St. Leonard's, near Hastings, after discharge, but he was living in the Brighton District in 1876.

In 1881 he was living with his brother-in-law, Samuel Pike, a farmer, at Wells Farm, Ratcliffe upon Trent, the latter's wife, Anne [sic], and their two sons. At this time Roberts was shown as "Of no occupation. Pensioner."

1881 Census

Lees Farm, Main Street, Radcliffe on Trent.

Samuel Pike, 46, Agricultural Labourer, born Holme Pierrepont.

Harriett Pike, 52, born Langar, Notts.

Henry Pike, 21, Joiner Carpenter, born Cropwell Butler.

John Pike, 18, Wheelwright, born Cropwell Butler.

William Roberts, 50, brother-in-law, Pensioner, born Langar [4 miles south of Bingham].

Plus one servant.

Death & burial

Death registered

William Roberts, 53 years old, June Quarter 1885, Bingham.

From the Army and Navy Gazette, 13th of June 1885:

The death is announced of William Roberts, late Farrier-Major of the 4th Light Dragoons, and who was one of the Balaclava "600", at Ratcliffe, Nottinghamshire, aged 53 years.

On the (presumed) gravestone of William Roberts it says:

"Harriet, the beloved wife of Samuel Pike. Died November 1st 1907, in her 80th year." "Thy will be done." Also of "Samuel Pike, who died December 1st 1921, aged 88 years." "At rest." Also of "Farrier-Major William Roberts, late of the Queen's Own Hussars and brother of the above Harriet Pike, who died May 19th 1885, aged 54 years. Crimean veteran who fought in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava." Also of "Charles Wightman Pike, grandson of the above, who died October 9th 1917, aged 37 years."

(There is a photograph of this family gravestone in the 4th Hussar file.)

[PB: Charles S. Wightman Pike and a Samuel Edward Pike are named on the St Mary, Radcliffe on Trent St Mary War memorial here.]

In correspondence with EJB (see Further information, below), Mr. Richard Pike stated that Roberts was buried in the grave-space of his sister and brother-in-law in St. Edmund's churchyard at Holme Pierrepoint, Notts. Mr Pike also said that the Samuel Pike referred to on the gravestone was his great-grandfather, with whom he had lived for part of his life, and who had often told him stories of Roberts and had eventually arranged for Roberts's name to be placed on the stone. (This fact, and the difference in dates between Robert's death and that of his sister, Harriet, casts doubts as to whether Roberts is actually buried or "commemorated" there) It would appear that Samuel Pike, who was farming in the area, employed Roberts after his discharge from the Army.

There is an entry in the Holme Pierrepont burial registers for "William Roberts, of Radcliffe on Trent, aged 53 years" the burial taking place on the 21st of May 1855. The officiating priest was the Revd. Henry Seymour, and there is a starred note in the margin — "One of the 600." There is no entry for any burial at Radcliffe and this confirms the fact that although his name appears on the gravestone after later burials he was indeed actually buried (and not simply "commemorated" there, although he died at Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Further information

Information sent to EJB by Mr. Richard Pike, of East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire, following an article in a local newspaper (see copy in the 4th Hussar file), reveals that he (Mr. Pike) is the great-great-nephew of William Roberts through his (Roberts's) sister.

RP possesses a letter written from the Crimea by Roberts to his sister [PB: shown above] and also a Crimean medal (without clasps) to an Alexander Gobbie of the Scots Fusilier Guards. (This medal was issued with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, but there is no known reason how it came to be in the family's possession.)

He further stated that Roberts was buried in the grave-space of his sister and brother-in-law in St. Edmund's churchyard at Holme Pierrepoint, Notts. Mr Pike also said that the Samuel Pike referred to on the gravestone was his great-grandfather, with whom he had lived for part of his life, and who had often told him stories of Roberts and had eventually arranged for Roberts's name to be placed on the stone.

This fact, and the difference in dates between Roberts's death and that of his sister, Harriet, casts doubts as to whether Roberts is actually buried or — as seems more likely — is simply commemorated there. It would appear that Samuel Pike, who was farming in the area, employed Roberts after his discharge from the Army.

Medal to William Roberts at auction, 29 November 2018: "An Interesting 'Probable' Light Brigade Charger's Crimea medal & brooch mount".

Medal to William Roberts at auction, 29 November 2018: "An Interesting 'Probable' Light Brigade Charger's Crimea medal & brooch mount".

(Click on image to enlarge)

*An Interesting 'Probable' Light Brigade Charger's Crimea medal & brooch mount awarded to Farrier Major William Roberts, 4th Hussars, who was present in the Crimea earlier in his career as a Farrier with the 4th Light Dragoons at Balaklava.

His name is confirmed on the medal roll, and his gravestone and obituary both record his involvement in this historic cavalry charge, comprising:

Crimea, 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (1484. Wm Roberts 4th Lt. Dragoons), naming crudely erased and renamed in upright capitals, plug to edge at 6 o'clock from previous wear in a swivel-mounted brooch, separate silver ring mount offered with medal, with pin to reverse, edge to brooch engraved 'Forward the Light Brigade / One of the Six Hundred', contact marks and minor bruises, about very fine

The books 'Honour the Light Brigade' by Lummis and Wynn, 'In Search of the Light Brigade' by Crider, and 'Hell Riders' by Terry Brighton, all record 1484 William Roberts as being present in the Crimea with the 4th Light Dragoons. He is considered a possible 'charger', but like many of the men who were not killed, wounded or taken prisoner, or mentioned in correspondence, his participation cannot be confirmed in a military sense. However, this medal is particularly interesting, as his participation appears to be confirmed by the silver brooch mount offered with the medal, and by other contemporary evidence.

Firstly, his involvement is recorded by his family headstone in Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham: 'Also, Farrier Major William Roberts, late of the 4th Queen's Own Hussars...who died May 19th 1885, aged 54 years, A Crimean Veteran who fought in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava.'

Similarly, these details are borne out in his obituary in the Nottingham Evening Post of Saturday 30 May, 1885, which records the following:

'DEATH OF A CRIMEAN HERO ... There has just died at Radcliffe-on-Trent, at the age of 53, Mr. William Roberts, late farrier-major of the 4th Hussars. He was 24 years in the regiment, seven years of which he served in India and two years in the Crimea. He was one of the survivors of the brave Six Hundred that went through the memorable Balaclava Charge.

He was also engaged at the battle of Alma and Inkerman and the storming of Sebastopol, for which he received the Turkish war medal with the four clasps [sic], the Crimean medal, and the medal for long service and good conduct. He was a real soldier, and always enjoyed relating to friends the incidents that occurred during the campaign in the Crimea and the gallant Six Hundred.'

A medal named to this recipient is known to have been sold at Glendining's on 25 September 1919.

[Source: (accessed 13 November 2018). PDF here.]

In March 2021 there was a message from Jean Marashlian (frockit@ozemail.com.au) on Wendy Leahy's 4thLightDragoons@groups.io: "I have had a message from a Robert's descendant in N.Z. that William Robert's Crimean medals were bought by a Robert's family member, so they are back in safe hands. This will give my Father great pleasure as he was concerned they had gone to a collector."

References & acknowledgements

Death registration and Census information for 1881, and 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.