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

Added 17.12.12. Minor edits 2.4.14, 4.4.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1620, Private Henry SEWELL — 8th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born in the parish of St. Michael's, Coventry.

Originally enlisted into the 2nd Warwick Militia on the 9th of September 1852. but released "in order to enlist into the 8th Hussars." Regimental No. 385.

Enlisted into the 8th Hussars at Leamington Spa on the 13th of January 1855.

Age: 20 years 2 months.

Height: 5' 6".

Trade: Weaver.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 15th of July 1855.

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

Transferred to the 19th Hussars on the 1st of November 1863. Regimental No. 676.

Transferred to the 17th Lancers on the 22nd of August 1867, following his re-engagement for a further 12-year period of service — vide War Office Authority, dated the 21st of August 1867. Regimental No. 1126

Served at Kotah.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Dublin on the 5th of July 1870, as:

"Unfit for further service.

He has valvular disease of the heart. Disease can be traced to a seizure of rheumatism in 1861.

Renders him quite unfit for any active exertion. Will interfere seriously with his earning his livelihood.

He is not considered to have been caused nor aggravated by vice or mis-conduct."

Served 15 years 189 days, also half-service (15 days) in the Warwick Yeomanry to count.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 11 months

In India: 10 years 4 months.

Conduct: " has been good".

In possession of two Good Conduct badges.

Three times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.

To live at No. 12 Hill Field Place, Paradise Row, Coventry.

Medals & commemorations

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.

Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, Turkish Medal, and the Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.

Pension letters to the 20th of July 1897.

Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.

Further detailed medal information archived

1881 Census

57 Church Lane, Harbourne, Staffordshire

The 1881 Census Returns show him as a Servant in a Parsonage (Domestic), aged 49, born at Knowle, Warwick, with his wife, Mary, aged 50, born at Higley, Worcestershire and three children, aged 18 to 14, the two eldest being shown as Pupil Teachers.

Life after service

Death & burial


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