1479, Private Thomas WILLIAMS - 11th Hussars

Birth & early life

Thomas Williams was born on the 26th of September 1830 and christened in St Saviour's Church, Southwark, London, on the 24th of October 1830, the son of William Williams, a hatter, of Guildford St, Southwark, and his wife, Sarah, nee Mulvany.

His parents were married on the 21st of December 1827 in St Antholin's Church, Budge Row, London. (The church was demolished in 1874.) Both were "of the parish" and the service was "by banns", the service being conducted by the Revd John Gordon.

Neither of the two people who signed as witnesses seemed to have any family relationship.

His brother, 1571 William Williams, 11th Hussars, was with him in the Crimea.

William Williams [father]

[The following reflects EJB's developing understanding of the relationships in the Williams family.]

Both Thomas Williams and 1571 William Williams are said to be the sons of William Williams, Hat and cap manufacturer, of 148, High Street, Colchester, Essex (1851).

But there is something not quite right about this as the 1851 Census shows a William Williams, a Hat Maker in business in the High Street at Colchester, with his wife Sarah, and five children, the eldest shown being William, aged 14, a Hat Maker's Assistant, George, 13, a Telegraph Boy, and three other children of school age.

William Williams was born in London, Middlesex, his wife in the parish of Christ's Church, Middlesex, the two eldest children in St Saviour's parish, Middlesex and the others at Colchester.

A Street Directory shows William Williams in business in the High Street in 1859, but there is no entry for him as such in the 1861 Census.

In 1990 a chance meeting on a conducted trip to Egypt brought information from his greater family.

They possess a family bible which gives various birth and death dates of the thirteen children (seven sons and six daughters) born to William Williams and his wife Sarah, of whom eight were born in London and the others at Colchester between November of 1828 and September of 1852. These confirm those already known. They also have a photograph of Thomas Williams in uniform, wearing his Crimean medal and holding a young girl on his knee.

This is believed to be his youngest sister Louise (1852-1894), as no children are known from his own marriage. (See copy of this in the 11th Hussar file.)

[PB, June 2014: What exactly is the problem? Is it that Thomas Williams would have been 20, not 14, in 1851, and was already in the regiment, having enlisted in 1850?]

Enlistment

Enlisted at Ipswich on the 2nd of July 1850.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: None shown.

Service

Rode in the Charge, October 25th 1854.

A brief but vivid letter he wrote to his parents early in January 1855 was soon reprinted in local newspapers and in the Patriotic Journal.

From the Essex Standard, 26th of January 1855:

"The following letter from one of the sons of our respected townsman, Mr Williams, hatter, will be read with much interest. The writer is in the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) and was one of the few who escaped unhurt in the heroic but disastrous charge at Balaklava. Many of our readers will remember him when resident in Colchester:

"Camp near Sebastopol,

January 6th 1855.

Dear Father and Mother,

I trust you will forgive me for keeping so long silent, but if you knew how we have been harassed about since we landed, I am sure I should obtain your forgiveness.

I thank the Lord most fervently for his merciful goodness towards me, in giving me health and strength, and carrying me through the many difficulties I have had, with my poor comrades, to encounter.

I have been with the regiment in all the skirmishes we have had, except Inkerman [sic, see previous comment on his being awarded the clasp] as I was then at the wounded horse depot at Balaklava, with three of our wounded horses.

We lost one poor fellow of our troop [presumably 1625 Thomas Wright], and a Sergeant had his arm blown off [1102 Sergeant John Breeze.]

It was a well-aimed ball from the enemy's artillery. It first took the top of a horse's head clean off; took the rider's arm off, went through his rear rank man and put the next man's shoulder out of joint.

This was all our casualties on the 5th; which I think was more than sufficient after the severe cutting-up we got at Balaklava.

I cannot help telling you a little about that affair, although of course you will have heard more flowery accounts than I can give of it. At the time we had to turn out every morning before day-break, and soon after daylight came we would turn in and go on with the usual routine of business.

On that fatal morning we were just about to turn in when we heard a report from the Turkish batteries. We looked round, and saw flash after flash. Of course, it caused quite a stir in our ranks. We were mounted in quick-sticks and advanced.

The shot and shell soon began to make themselves heard. Several passed through our ranks, but did no harm. Presently we saw Master Turko retiring: then the shells became thicker, and we at last retired behind a hill, out of sight of the enemy.

We stopped here, perhaps a quarter-of-an-hour, and it was whilst we were stationed here that the Heavies made their bold and daring charge and drove the Russians back over the hills.

Then we got the order to advance, I could see what would be the result of it and so could we all of us; but of course we had got the order, it was our duty to obey.

I do not want to boast too much; but I can safely say there was not a man in the Light Brigade that day but what did his duty to his Queen and country.

It was a fearful sight to see men and horses falling on all sides. Thank God, I and my poor horse got through without a scratch, although I had one or two narrow escapes.

My sword scabbard had two or three severe knocks; in fact, a ball caught it above the centre, and nearly cut it in two. How my leg escaped seems to me to be a miracle; but thanks to a kind Providence, I did escape, and hope, with God's assistance, once more to return to the bosom of my beloved family.

If I should fall, you must console yourselves by the thought that I died in a just and honourable cause. But I do not despair. Thank, God, I am in good spirits, as well as in good health.

There was been a great fall of snow here, and it is rather unpleasant; it comes through the tent, and is wetting our blankets nicely.

It has been freezing this last day or so. I woke up this morning, and feeling rather cold about the mouth, I put a hand to it and found what little moustache and whiskers I have, frozen; - rather a pleasant situation - what think you?

I am very sorry to say that poor Bill [his younger brother, 1571 William Williams, 11th Hussars] has been very unwell. We left him at Varna when we started for the Crimea, and the silly fellow kept trying to join us, although he was not fit for it.

He got his wish and came to Balaklava a few days after our charge, but he was much too weak to join his regiment, so he was sent back to Scutari, where he is much more comfortable.

He is all right, except weakness.

Your most affectionate but undutiful son,

Thomas Williams."

A slightly abbreviated version, ending with his light reference to his frozen "little moustache and whiskers", appeared in the Patriotic Fund Journal, vol.1, no.10 (17th February 1855), p.173:

(Click on image to enlarge)

[PB, July 2014: It is also quoted in full in Dawson, Letters, pp153-4. There are minor differences in transcription. ]

Transferred to the 18th Hussars at Hounslow on the 28th of February 1858. Regimental No. 379.

From Private to Corporal: 1st of April 1858.

Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of June 1858.

Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 5th of October 1858 for "absence.

From Private to Corporal: 14th of April 1859.

Sent to the Invalid Depot at Chatham on the 7th of November 1859 and rejoined the regiment on the 7th of March 1860.

1861 Census

Cavalry Camp lines at Aldershot [PB: sic?].

At the time of the 1861 Census the 18th Hussars were in the Cavalry Camp lines at Aldershot. Thomas was then shown as a Corporal, aged 30 years, born in Southwark, Surrey, with his wife, Ann, 24, born at Rochford, Essex. There were no children shown in the family at this time.

From Corporal to Sergeant: 27th of October 1861.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Hounslow on the 29th of October 1862.

"Time expired, having completed 12 years' service."

Medals

Entitled (according to the medal rolls) to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.

(If, by his own admission in a letter to his parents [above], he was not at Inkerman, how did he come to be awarded the clasp?)

Further detailed medal information archived.

Commemorations

Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 and 1879.

Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.

Life after service

[PB: See also the transcription at http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Birkenhead/Birkenhead1881.shtml (accessed 28.7.15).

From the Wakefield and West Riding Herald, 16th of October 1875:

"Referring to the fact that only 80 of the 200 men known to have returned to England after the Charge had been discovered and would be at the Commemoration Dinner on the 25th of October and that intelligence had been received from a number of men from the various regiments who participated had been brought together in Liverpool and were desirous of responding to the invitation...

The Master of the Birkenhead Workhouse, Mr Thomas Williams, himself a gallant member of the "Six Hundred," undertook almost immediately to find the surviving members of the Light Brigade", following pursuits in Liverpool, Birkenhead, Manchester, Chester, and other towns in Lancashire and Cheshire.

In doing this he had the assistance of Mr Richard Williams, who resides in Manchester, and who once occupied the rank of Sergeant-Major in the 17th Lancers."

[PB: Roy Dutton (Forgotten Heroes) quotes from 23rd October 1875 issue of the ILN, "Echoes of the Week" column, p.414:

"Mr Thomas Williams, the respected master of the Birkenhead Workhouse, and 'late of the 11th Hussars', has sent me a most interesting pamphlet, entitled 'Personal reminiscence of the Crimean War', being a lecture delivered by him on the eleventh anniversary of the Balaclava charge. Mr Williams was one of the Six Hundred, and his little book comes very a propos at a moment when preparations are being made for feasting at the Alexandra Palace the gallant survivors of the Light Brigade."

[PB: I have not been able to locate this pamphlet.]

1881 Census

Birkenhead Workhouse.

The 1881 Census shows him and his wife as Master and Matron:

Thomas Williams, 50, Workhouse Master (Munic), born Southwark, Surrey.

Annie Williams, 44 Workhouse Matron (Munic), 44, born Rochford, Essex.

The only other family member shown was a niece, Annie Louisa Kemp, aged 8, also born at Rochford, Essex. The Return was countersigned by Thomas Williams on the 9th of April 1881, when there were 213 inhabitants.