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

Added 15.9.11. Minor edits 5.4.2014.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

703, Private William SAKER — 17th Lancers

Also recorded as "Salter".

[PB: Salter seems more likely to be his actual family name. Any way of checking?]

Birth & early life

According to the Regimental Casualty Return, he was born at Cobham, Kent, and had been a Gardener by trade.

Enlistment

Enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons at Maidstone on the 31st of March 1842. But no Regimental number was allocated as he did not join the regiment.

No other enlistment details are shown.

Service

On duty to Chatham, "with invalids", on the 18th of April 1842.

Did not return to the Regiment, but was transferred to the 17th Lancers from the Maidstone Depot on the 17th of May 1842.

From Private to Corporal: 1st of August 1851.

Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 17th of May 1853.

At Scutari, 19th of December 1854 — 11th of May 1855.

Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of 0ctober 1857.

The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.

In action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.

Died at Jhansi, India, on the 20th of May 1859.

Medals & commemorations

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

Mutiny medal without clasp.

The Returned medal book states "Mutiny medal returned to the Mint. No trace of issue."

Further detailed medal information archived.

Death & burial

Died at Jhansi, India, on the 20th of May 1859.

The India Office records shows him as dying at Jhansi on the 20th of May 1859 from "coup de soleil", aged 42 years. He was buried on the 21st of May by the Revd. Samuel H. Beaumont.

The Regimental Casualty Returns for the period show that he was born at Cobham, Kent, and had been a Gardener by trade. He left no will, but his credits, of £6/10/8d, were sent to his next of kin, his sister Ellen, living in Rochester, Kent. His Crimean medal was also sent to her.


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