Born in Huddersfield.
Enlisted at Leeds on the 23rd of May 1846.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Book-keeper.
From Private to Corporal: 21st of December 1854.
[PB: In May 2014 a letter dated 17th of January 1855 from Corporal Henry William Stancliffe (4th Light Dragoons) in the Crimea to his cousin, Mr James Sheard, in Huddersfield was published in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner. It was included in an article about the forthcoming publication of Letters from the Light Brigade: The British Cavalry in the Crimean War, by Anthony Dawson.]
Balaklava, Crimea, January 17th, 1855
My Dear Cousin,
Your very kind and welcome letter only reached me about three or four days ago. This I attribute to its coming via Southampton instead of France; had it left [?] have come this latter way you might have had my reply long 'ere this. I am exceedingly sorry that I should have occasioned the slightest anxiety to my poor mother, but I cannot get a letter from them. I have written several times, and am totally at a loss to know the reason I receive no reply. I am much afraid my letters have never been received.
Until very recently there has been great difficulties in obtaining stamps, paper, &c., and I have found that all letters not properly stamped, that is to say, unless they have three upon them, and sent via France, are sent per sailing vessel or any other merchantman bound for home, and thereby are much delayed and frequently lost. Your letter was 46 days instead of about 14 before I received it.
I am, thank God, in most excellent health, and have enjoyed it ever since I have been in the country. I have been in three engagements, and several skirmishes with the Enemy. I was at the battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman without a scratch.
Our brigade lost few men in action except at Balaklava, and there in one short half hour we lost more than one-half; the five regiments comprise the brigade, but all this you have seen in the newspapers.
Every person will long remember the charge of the Light Brigade. Our horses are nearly all dead; we have few left, and what we have are almost useless; in fact the Light Brigade is a complete wreck, — we are of not service whatever, and what they intend to do with the few that are left I do not know. I think it will be impossible to make us up here. Report says we are to be relieved by the Light Cavalry now at home. I hope, if please God, such may be the case.
The miseries of a camp at this season of the year are intolerable; the ground is covered with snow to the depth of two or three feet, and is likely to be for some time, a very cold wind blowing from the north, and freezing hard. I never experienced anything so cold before. We have been served out with good warm clothing, thank to the people of England, or I do not know how we should have got ours.
[Source: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/memoirs-charge-light-brigade-huddersfield-7194850, published 31.5.2014 (accessed 31.5.14).]
Corporal to Sergeant: 25th of May 1855.
On the Regimental Staff, employed as Acting Hospital Sergeant, vice Archer, from the 20th of October 1855.
Sent money from the Crimea to his wife, Rosanah Stannicliffe.
One child, Henry William, is known to have been born to him and his wife Rosanah, at Hounslow in 1857.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major in "H" Troop on the 10th of September 1857. Went "absent" at Coventry on the 20th of August 1860.
Posted as a "deserter" from the 24th of August 1860.
Can find no further trace to 1865.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.