Born in the parish of St. James's, Bath, Somerset.
He was baptised on the 17th of October 1819, the son of Richard Williams, a tailor, of Abbey Street, Bath.
Enlisted at London for "unlimited service" on the 15th of November 1843.
Age: 22.
Height: 5' 10".
Trade: Printer.
Features: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Sandy hair.
From Private to Corporal: 19th of June 1848.
Corporal to Sergeant: 11th of June 1851.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 1st of January 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain on the 8th of October 1857.
The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.
Served in action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
Discharged from Shorncliffe on the 24th of November 1867, "Free, at own request after 24 years service."
Served 24 years 9 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years. In India: 7 years 1 month.
Conduct: "very good." Would be in the possession of five Good Conduct badges if not promoted.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 46 years 3 months on discharge.
At the time of his discharge his next of kin was shown as his wife, Fanny Jane, and they had four children (see below).
He was awarded a pension of 2/- per day.
Entitled (according to the medal rolls) to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal
[EJB: His name does not appear on the Balaclava clasp roll as being awarded at a later date. From all the evidence however, there can be no doubt that he did ride. During the Balaclava charge he had a painful boil on his nose and was wearing a scarf tied around his face for protection.]
Mutiny medal without clasp.
Was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal at Brighton on the 6th of September 1858 with a gratuity of £5 and the Meritorious Service Medal on the 19th of April 1884.
A photograph (see copy in the 17th Lancer file) shows Richard Williams in the collar, cuffs, and apron of the Masonic Order. (See also copy of a Masonic memorial-card to him in the 17th Lancer file.) He was a founder member of the Worsley Freemasons and in return for giving them a silver cup which he had been presented with by the regiment on leaving it, was given in return a dress sword bearing the inscription, "A token of esteem and respect for uniform conduct as a soldier and a gentleman".
After his discharge from the Army he became Troop Sergeant Major of the Worsley Troop of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry and Sub-Postmaster of Worsley. He also taught drill to the school-children on the Ellesmere estate.
1871 Census
Post Office, Barton Road, Worsley.
Richard H, 49, Sergeant Major of Yeomanry, out Pensioner of Chelsea & post master.
Fanny J36.
Laura F, 13, Emma M, 8, Charles H, 6, Richard J, 2, Florence E, 5 months=5 chIldren.
[RM: The 1881 census returns show him as a "Serg Major of Yeomanry" aged 60, born Bath, living at the Post Office, Worsley. His wife Fanny is shown aged 46, born Ireland as the Postmistress. Children shown are Emma, 18 and Charles 16 both born India, Harriet 14, born Aldershot and Richard 12, Maude 8 and George 6 all born in Worsley.]
1891 Census
61 Barton Road, Worsley.
Richard H Williams71, post master & retired sergeant major, born Bath.
Fanny, 58 telephonist.
children shown: Charles 26, Harriett 24, Maude 18, George 16, and boarder.
Appointed a Yeoman of the Guard on the 4th of December 1893.
1901 Census
Post office, Worsley Road.
Richard Hall Williams, 81, Postmaster.
Fanny Jane, 67.
Charles Henry, 36, Florence Mabel 31, Maud Eveline 27, George Clement 26.
1911 Census
27 Clifton Road, Eccles.
Fanny Jane Williams, 78 widow, born Dublin.
Charles Henry 46, Maud Evelyn, 38, George Clement, 36.
Died on the 7th of July 1910 and was buried in Worsley Churchyard, near Manchester.
See copy of the report (and picture) of his funeral taken from "The Journal" of the 15th of July in the 17th Lancer file.
From Mr. H.T. Millikin, churchwarden of Worsley Church, comes the information regarding the inscription on Richard Hall William's tombstone:
(It is not known who the latter was — possibly Richard William's mother-in-law.)"In loving memory of Richard Hall Williams, late Sergeant Major, 17th Lancers. Died July 7th 1910. Aged 91 years. Crimean, Balaclava and Indian Mutiny veteran. Also Fanny Jane, wife of the above, who died December 12th 1912, aged 81 years. Also Richard James, son of R.H. and F.H. Williams, who died July 10th 1885, aged 16 years and 6 months. Also Charles H. Williams, son of R.H. and F.J. Williams, born 19th of May 1864, — Died 20th of December 1951. Also of George Clement Williams, son of R.H. and F.J. Williams, who died 10th of April 1974 in his 100th year. Also of Marion Green, who died January 27th 1890, aged 80 years."
(See photograph of his gravestone and that of his greater family in the 17th Lancer file.)
From the Regimental History come Richard William's remarks on the abscess on his nose from which he suffered during the Charge:
"My visage was so fearsome that the Russians even held their fire. But the pain was so great that on the following day I must report to the Regimental Surgeon -a step not to be taken lightly then. Two orderlies held me and I received a smart buffet on the nose — which dispersed the fluid."
The India Office records show three children as having been born to him and his wife, Fanny Jane, whilst he was serving in India.
Eliza Clarissa, born at Secunderbad on the 20th of March 1861 and baptised by the Revd. Thomas Pratt on the 30th of April.
Emma Maria, born at Secunderbad on the 9th of September 1862 and baptised by the Revd Thomas A. Pratt on the 29th of September.
Charles Henry, born at Secunderbad on the 27th of April 1864 and baptised by the Revd. George English on the 10th of May.
Another son, Clement, was still alive in 1974, being then over 90 years of age. At that time he was very deaf, his main remembrance being a long tirade against William Butler of the 17th, (both of whom lived at South Shore, Blackpool) whom he accused of stealing his father's papers.
In April of 1974, when his last surviving son George Clement's ashes were interred in his father's grave. In his will he left a legacy of £8,250 to the church of St. Mary at Worsley to be invested in a fund for future repairs to the fabric of the church. His father had been a sides-man at the same church for 21 years
[RM: The following information taken from an article on Hall and his Masonic connections:
"Sgt Major Williams was already a mason when he arrived in Worsley and records recently found show that he was initiated into United Lodge No.697 on the 7th February 1866. He was passed the following month but it is not known where he was raised. This was discovered by looking at the records of when Sgt Williams signed the petition to become a founder of Worsley Lodge, Grand Lodge discovered that he had been initiated and passed in United Lodge no.697, Colchester, Essex:
"Within 3 years of arriving in Worsley (1870) he became a joining member of Bridgewater Lodge No.1213 and served as its Worshipful Master in 1876. He went on to sign the petition to become a founder of Worsley Lodge in 1879 and the consecration ceremony took place on the 17th February 1880 and served as master of that lodge in 1881. He also went on to become a founder of Lathom Lodge No.2229."
See further information from an article in Masonic Quarterly 2004.
Census information for 1871, 1891, 1901 & 1911, kindly provided by Chris Poole.