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Thread: Charles Chesher

  1. #1
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    Question Charles Chesher

    Hi all. I'm new to this forum and would be v grateful for any info re my gt gfr's brother Charles Chesher (sometimes shown as Cheshire) who, according to a letter to his parents (I have a transcript, original in Hertford Museum), rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade. His headstone says: 'Corporal in the 4th Light Dragoon (Now 4th Hussars). He served thru the Crimea in the Commander-in-Chief's escort and took part in the battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaclava and Sebastopol'. Regimental records appear to list him as Charles Cheshire, enlisted 1850, Regimental No 1449, Private.
    Regards
    Roger Gould

  2. #2
    Geoffers
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    If you don't already have it, I suggest going to The National Archives (TNA) at Kew to look for his service record. If you are not sure how to do this, TNA have a large number of research guides
    https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...sindex.asp?j=1
    scroll down to 'B' and look at the links for 'British Army'.

    Geoffers

  3. #3
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    Thanks Geoffers - will give that a try

    Roger

  4. #4
    Lawrence W. Crider
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    Default Charles Cheshire

    In re Charles Cheshire, 1449, 4th LD:

    Below is what I have in my book. Although he was in the Crimea at the time of the Charge, there have been no accounts or other evidence that have surfaced to date to suggest that he rode in the Charge. Similarly, the absence of the award of a Balaclava Clasp would support this conclusion.


    ☼ Cheshire, Pte Charles, (1449), 4th LD (p39)
    Enl 03-50. At Cav Dep 01-01 to 03-31-54 [54-1-5]. Fr Maidstone 05-23-54 [54-2-5]. W/ Svc Trps entire period [54-1 to 56-1]. Medal [200] w/ A [200], I [200], & S [218] Clasps. Regt. No. shown as “1429” on MRs [AS]; illegible on my copies.

    Lawrence W. Crider
    Author, In Search of the Light Brigade
    Editor, the War Correspondent

  5. #5
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    Default Charles Chesher/Cheshire

    Quote Originally Posted by Lawrence W. Crider
    In re Charles Cheshire, 1449, 4th LD:

    Below is what I have in my book. Although he was in the Crimea at the time of the Charge, there have been no accounts or other evidence that have surfaced to date to suggest that he rode in the Charge. Similarly, the absence of the award of a Balaclava Clasp would support this conclusion.


    ☼ Cheshire, Pte Charles, (1449), 4th LD (p39)
    Enl 03-50. At Cav Dep 01-01 to 03-31-54 [54-1-5]. Fr Maidstone 05-23-54 [54-2-5]. W/ Svc Trps entire period [54-1 to 56-1]. Medal [200] w/ A [200], I [200], & S [218] Clasps. Regt. No. shown as “1429” on MRs [AS]; illegible on my copies.

    Lawrence W. Crider
    Author, In Search of the Light Brigade
    Editor, the War Correspondent
    Thank you so much Lawrence and please accept my apologies for not picking up your reply until now.
    Yes, we've since determined from a number of sources that Charles did not actually take part in the Charge. Re-reading the letter he sent to his parents shortly after the battle, one can see he must have been observing the charge from the heights above the valley, in his role as escort to the Commander-in-Chief.
    However, what we have discovered is that one Frederick Henry Cheshire did take part in the Charge. He was discharged in 1855 as a result of injuries 'incurred at Balaklava Oct 25th 1854'. His headstone bears the inscription 'late 8th Hussars, one of the Six Hundred, who died Feb 16th 1912 aged 79'.
    We think the two Chesher/Cheshires may have been related but find it strange that, amongst all the names included in Charles' letter to his parents, he fails to mention Frederick Henry.
    A long shot, I know, but can you shed any light on the matter?
    If you would like a transcript of Charles' letter (dated 27 Dec 1854) I would pleased to send it to you. The original is held somewhere in Hertford Museum but the staff there are currently unable to locate it!
    Regards

  6. #6
    Larry Jenkins
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    Default From "In Search of the Light Brigade"

    Cheshire, Pte Henry, (1201), 8th H (p92)
    Bn at All saints [55-2-20], Exeter. Enl 11-18-51 [55-2-20]. Prior Occ: Groom [55-2-20]. Abd Shooting Star fr 04-25 & thru 2nd Mstr [54-2-5]. Rode in Charge; severely wounded [CR 36]. To Scut 11-05, & to Malta 12-15-54 [54-4-5]. Inv to England 1855. Medal [283/288] w/ A [283/288], B [300], & S [305] Clasps. Member BCS 1877 & 1879 [GM 38]. Signed Loyal Address of 1887. Att Ann. Dinners in 1897, 1899, & 1908. Died 02-24-1912. Received help fr T. H. Roberts Fund.

  7. #7
    Lawrence W. Crider
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    Dear Roger:

    Would love a transcript of his letter and any other information you have on him . . . photos would also be nice, if there are any.

    Unfortunately all that I have on Henry is what I included in my book, which information was forwarded to you by Larry Jenkins.
    Roy Dutton, in his book "Forgotten Heroes: The Charge of the Light Brigade" p. 86 notes that Henry (as his name was shown on the Muster Rolls) married Eliza Downey in Exeter in 1857 using his full name Frederick Henry Cheshire; he went on to have 9 children. Censuses show him living in Portland, Dorset in 1861 and in Exeter, Devon in 1881. No mention of any relationship to Charles.
    Sorry to not be of more help.

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