Home Search Index of men A-Z

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

Added 17.12.12. Minor edits 13.3.14, 4.4.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

694, Private William WALTERS — 8th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born in the parish of St. Peter's, Dublin, c.1820.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Dublin on the 1st of February 1841.

Age: 21.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Servant.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

"Absent": 27th-30th of August 1841

Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned 4th-17th of September 1841.

1851 Census

Preston Cavalry Barracks, Steyning, Sussex.

William Walters, Private, unmarried, 31, Private Soldier, born St Peters Dublin.

Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Wilson Kennedy" on the 2nd of May 1854.

He was batman to General Shewell in the Crimea.

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

Embarked for England from India on the 7th of January 1862.

Served at Korsee and Gwalior.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on the 19th of May 1862:

"Medically unfit for further service. — Chronic rheumatism. — first observed at Brighton in April of 1843 and has suffered repeatedly from it since.

In India in 1859 he had a severe attack and being much debilitated was sent to Mount Abo Sanatorium for a few months.

Since his return he has been constantly plagued by rheumatism and was last in the Sanatorium in 1862.

Since which time he has been in tolerably good health, but still suffers from strong twinges and in being so, unfit for the duties of a soldier and is therefore recommended for discharge.

Not aggravated by vice or mis-conduct."

Served 21 years 25 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 11 months

In India: 4 years 10 months.

Conduct: "good".

In possession of five Good Conduct badges. Once tried by Court-martial.

Aged 43 years 4 months on discharge.

Medals

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

Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.

Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with three clasps, Turkish Medal, Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India. and the Long Service medal.

Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 3rd of July 1862, with a gratuity of £5.

Commemorations

Life after service

He said he intended to live in Dublin after discharge, but he was living in the Clonmell Pension District in 1875.

Death & burial

No information.

References & acknowledgements

Census information for 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.


New on the site Search Index of men W
For further information, or to express an interest in the project, please email the editors, Philip Boys & Roy Mills, via info@chargeofthelightbrigade.com