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

Added 3.5.11. Further information 13.2.12. Minor edits 2.3.2014.

1442, Private William WATLEN - 13th Light Dragoons

Also recorded as "Watlin".

Birth & early life

Born in Winchester.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Edinburgh on the 15th of April 1852.

Age: 18.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Servant.

Discharge & pension

Discharged, "time expired", from Aldershot on the 15th of April 1863.

Served 12 years.

Conduct: "good". In possession of two Good Conduct badges,

Medals

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

The medal roll states, "S clasp, ordered on list from C.O. in reply to circular."

A supplementary roll (undated) signed by Major William Holden shows him as being issued with the Crimean medal (with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman) on the 7th of October 1855.

Commemorations

Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.

Life after service

1871 Census

9, Spring Gardens, Winchester.

William Watlin, 39, Tailor, born Weeke, Hants [part of Winchester].

Margaret, 32.

Five children are shown: Benjamin 11, born Dublin, Harry 7, born Aldershot, George 5, born Shorncliffe, Charles 3, born Limerick, Ireland, and Mary 1, born Longford, Ireland.

1881 Census

12 Havelock Street, Aldershot, Hampshire.

The 1881 Census show William "Watlin" as a Tailor, aged 49, born Winchester, living at His wife Margaret is shown as 44, born Co. Clare, Ireland. Four children are shown: two sons and two daughters, all born in Winchester. [RM]

Death and burial

Death registered

A William Watlin died in 1887 aged 52. His death was registered in the June Quarter in Farnham.

Chris Poole notes that this is likely to be 1441 William Watlin as he is the only "Watlin" or "Watlen" whose death was registered between 1881 and 1901, and that Aldershot is near Farnham.


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