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

Added 16.12.12

IN PROGRESS- NOT FOR PUBLICATION

917, Sergeant Michael REILLY — 8th Hussars

Also referred to as "Riley".

Birth & early life

Born in Cavan, Ireland, c.1826.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Longford on the 9th of February 1846.

Age: 20.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Clerk.

From Private to Corporal: 14th of May 1848.

Corporal to Sergeant: 28th of April 1852.

Service

Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Medora" on the 27th of April 1854.

Death & burial

Killed in action at Balaclava.

From an account of the Charge taken from the 8th Hussar Regimental History by "One who was in it":

[A]s we were in line I was just saying to Sergeant Riley [sic] "You're out of place" (he was on my left side and ought to have been on my right), but he did not speak.

I looked at him, his eyes were fixed and staring and his face was as rigid and white as a flagstone.

I think he was dead, though yet seated on his horse and that was too shocking to think of and look at."

Medals

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

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Life after service

Death & burial


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