LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive
Added 17.9.11. Minor edits 2.4.14, 4.4.14. New info added 29.12.17.
1091, Private Thomas TAYLOR - 17th Lancers
Real name "Alfred Styan".
Birth & early life
Born in the parish of Eden, Yorkshire, c.1830.
Enlistment
Enlisted at Woolwich on the 6th of September 1851.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Gardener.
Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Light brown hair.
Service
From Private to Corporal: 23 of April 1856.
Transferred to the 12th Lancers at Cahir on the 12th of August 1856.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 1st of April 1857 and also "deprived of good conduct pay."
Invalided from India to England on the 2nd of May 1859.
A Regimental Order, signed by Major E.B. Cureton, at York Barracks, on the 24th of March 1861:
"Authority has been received from the Secretary of State for War... Pte. Thomas Taylor of "A" Troop has been permitted to resume his real name of Alfred Styan."
Served in Central India under Sir Hugh Rose in the operations against Calpe, Ghanzi or Gwalior.
Discharge & pension
Discharged, "time expired", from York on the 19th of September 1863.
Served 12 years 1 day, to count.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Commemorations
His name was included in the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, but not in the 1879 revised list.
There is a copy in the "Memoirs" file of the 1877 membership list which originally belonged to 1353 William Pearson of the 4th Light Dragoons that has the word "Dead" in his hand-writing by the side of Taylor's name. He may possibly have died between the two years.
In an Account and Address Book which was used by James W. Wightman when the Secretary of the Balaclava Society, the name "Taylor" is added at the bottom of the list of members (post 1879) and the words "Not entitled." [PB: Which implies he was believed not to be a Charger.]
EJB: Perhaps this was one and the same man? [PB: Presumably EJB wrote this before he discovered the 1861 Regimental Order that confirmed the identification, above.]
Life after death
Death & burial
Further information
[PB: A Crimea medal to "1091 A Styan, 17th Lancers", came up for auction at Spink New York in January 2018. Notice there is no reference in the auctioneer's decription to the fact that there was no "A. Styan" listed in the Light Brigade, because he was known as Thomas Taylor, and this is perhaps reflected in the relatively low estimate?]
(Click on image to enlarge)
Lot 1197 Great Britain. Crimea, 1854-1856. Four clasps: "Alma", "Balaklava", "Inkermann", "Sebastopol"
Great Britain. Crimea, 1854-1856. Four clasps: "Alma", "Balaklava", "Inkermann" and "Sebastopol" (1091 + A.STYAN, 17TH LANCERS), engraved. On original riband. Contact marks. Lightly toned. About Extremely Fine.
Auctioneer's estimate 300 USD - 400 USD
