Born in the parish of St Mary Radcliffe, Bristol, c.1825.
His brother was 420, Regimental Sergeant Major Samuel WILLIAMS — 8th Hussars.
In the Crimea his next of kin was given as: Mother, Mrs. Ann Williams, living in the parish of St. Paul's, Bristol.
Enlisted into the 66th Foot at Bristol on the 17th of June 1842. Regimental No. 2062.
Age: 17.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Labourer.
Transferred to the 8th Hussars on the 4th of February 1843 — vide War Office Authority, dated the 3rd of January 1843.
From Private to Corporal: 31st of August 1847.
Corporal to Sergeant: 23rd of September 1850.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Echunga" on the 15th of April 1854.
Killed-in-action at Balaclava.
Next of kin: Mother, Mrs. Ann Williams, living in the parish of St. Paul's, Bristol.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol.
Killed-in-action at Balaclava.
Next of kin: Mother, Mrs. Ann Williams, living in the parish of St. Paul's, Bristol.
According to 1131 Private John Doyle's account of the Charge this man rode without weapons, having been relieved of them by order of Colonel Shewell, 8th Hussars, who, seeing Williams lighting his pipe, ordered his arrest.
Williams was not sent to the rear, but rode forward with the regiment:
"Poor fellow! being unarmed, he was not able to defend himself. His brother was Sergeant-Major of "E" Troop 8th Hussars, on Lord Raglan's Staff at the time. He said nothing about it, and soon after was made Regimental Sergeant Major."
[This was 420, Samuel Williams, 8th Hussars.]
His being with the escort to Lord Raglan casts some doubt on whether he rode in the Charge, the troop forming the escort not participating.
[PB: Who is being referred to here? Presumably 420, Samuel Williams? If so, and he was in Raglan's escort, he would not have witnessed his brother's deprivation of arms.]
[PB, Feb 2017: The event was discussed at some length during a commemorative dinner held at Balaclava on 25 October 1855, mainly attended by Chargers, reported in some detail in Soldiering in Sunshine and Storm, by William Douglas, Private 10th Royal Hussars, Edinburgh 1865.
"Watson" (a "sergeant in the 4th Light", who is probably 1241 William Watson, 4th Light Dragoons,) tells a story about how Sergeant William Williams, 8th Hussars, was sent into battle stripped of his weapons after some minor infraction. The unarmed Williams did not return from the Charge. According to the Watson, WW's elder brother, Sergeant-Major Samuel Williams, appears not to have protested. The context is a discussion about a general lack of access to justice in the Army (see chapter 13, pp. 261 -- 262).]
"I only wish," struck in a sergeant of the 4th Light, "that all those who wear them [medals]...had earned them as well; but when we see them principally decorating the breasts of staff and hospital sergeants, it causes us chaps to lay but little store by 'distinguished conduct' medals. I say, 8th," he continued, turning to one of the 8th Hussars, "how was that affair of your Sergeant-major's brother settled?"
"Oh! all hushed up," was the reply.
"What was that, Watson?" asked several at once.
"Why, I thought nearly everybody knew about it; but as it appears not, I'll tell you what I know of the matter. After the 8th had formed up on the plain that morning, the major, I believe, placed Sergeant under arrest for some trifling affair or other, and, as a consequence, his belts and arms were taken from him. Instead of being sent to the rear -- the place for a prisoner -- he was still kept in the ranks; and when we advanced on the guns, he went along with us unarmed. Like many more that day, he never returned; but whether he fell by the sword or bullet of the enemy, none knew; if by the sword, he was an easy victim, being unable to defend himself.
There was a deal of bother about the matter at first, and I fully expected that his brother would have reported the matter; but I suppose he thought better of it -- it could not bring the dead to life again, and would doubtless have injured his prospects; so second thoughts were probably best, as he was an old soldier with a family."