Born in the parish of St. Martin's, Norwich, c.1824.
Enlisted at Norwich on the 26th of December 1843.
Age: 18 years 7 months.
Height: 5' 10".
Trade: Carpenter.
Fair complexion. Blue eyes. Brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 5th of June 1851.
Cpl to Sergeant 17th of April 1855.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 1st of September 1858.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 4th of February 1868.
"Free, at own request after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 41 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges when promoted to Sergeant and would now have had five.
Aged 42 years 8 months on discharge.
Awarded a pension of 2/- per day, but this was increased to 30d. per day on the 12th of December 1881, after 13 years 8 months service in the A. & R. Force. He had served in the Yeomanry Cavalry. (Not shown which.)
He served with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry.
[WL also mentions Edinburgh. Check?]
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 5th of July 1870 with a gratuity of £5.
At discharge, he said he intended to live at Aberford, Yorkshire, but he was living in Leeds in 1875.
1871 Census
Aberford
Charles Smith, Head, Married, 45, Chelsea Pensioner, Norfolk Norwich
Sarah Smith, Wife, Married, 29, Ireland
Edith Smith, Daughter, 4, Yorkshire Aberford
Charlie Smith, Son, 1, Yorkshire Aberford
Elizabeth Smood or Oswood, Servant, 17, General Servant, Yorkshire Aberford
[Source: Yorkshire Aberford District 1, Ref: RG10/4737 [WL]]
1881 Census
School House, Aberford, Yorkshire.
On the 1881 Census Returns a Charles Smith, aged 54, a Staff Sergeant of Auxiliary Cavalry, born in Norwich, Norfolk, was living here with his wife, Sarah, 38, born in Ireland, and three children: Edith, 14, born in Scotland; Charles, 11; and Bertha, 9, the last two Scholars, both born in Aberford.
Lot 62 Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Serjt. C. Smith. 4th Lt. Dragns.), officially impressed naming, contact marks, nearly very fine £280-320
Charles Smith was born in Norwich, Norfolk and enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons in January 1844. Having served with them at the rank of Sergeant in the Crimea (Medal & 3 clasps, Turkish Medal), he was promoted Troop Sergeant Major in September 1858. Discharged in February 1868 after 24 years' service, he lived at The School House, Aberford, Yorkshire and latterly served with the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry, being awarded his L.S. & G.C. in 1870 (noted as sold at Spink in 1979).
Follow up: