One for Liverpool Annie Part 2

[liverpool annie]

Fourth Dragoon Guards leaving for the Crimean War, c.1854

http://www.magnoliabox.com/index.cfm?event=catalogue.product&productID=123246#

[liverpool annie]

George Wombwell, from Newburgh Priory, was one of the so-called "Gallant Six Hundred" who rode in the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade.

Though glorified by Hollywood hero Errol Flynn and poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, the charge was the biggest Allied mistake of the Crimean War. Only through a series of tragic misunderstandings were 673 British horsemen sent galloping down the wrong valley straight into the mouth of enemy Russian guns.  In the ensuing slaughter, the brigade lost more than 100 men and nearly 400 horses, while 127 men were wounded. But the humiliation of this military blunder in a Ukrainian valley by the Black Sea on the morning of October 25 1854 was soon softened by admiration for the men who took part.

In a horrendous war that claimed more than a million lives, mostly through sickness and disease, the Charge of the Light Brigade shone out as a symbol of British bravery and fighting spirit.

Leading the light cavalry into the jaws of death that fateful morning were six men, including the brigade commander himself Lord Cardigan. Close behind him was a landowner from Newburgh, Cornet George Wombwell of the 17th Lancers. Wombwell was among the six horsemen who lined up for the Charge in front of the rest of the Light Brigade. This tiny party of men included the leader himself Lord Cardigan, who was only slightly ahead. They set off at a steady walk, then a trot, finally gathering pace. It was agony for the men to go so slowly with enemy fire raining down on them. Wombwell said: "Every man felt that the quicker they rode, the better chance he would have of escaping unhurt. I got up to the guns when unfortunately my horse was shot under me, and came down leaving me dismounted. My first act was to get another horse, and seeing a trooper minus a rider I made for him and caught him and jumped on his back and went down again with the second line."

His second horse was surrounded by Russians. Rank mattered even in such circumstances. Officers were more likely to be taken prisoner, private soldiers to be killed. "I heard a fearful yell and about five or seven Cossacks came up flourishing their swords. 1 expected to be cut down, and desiring to throw down my sword, which seeing such resistance was useless I did, when I was instantly surrounded, my pistols seized, and was rather roughly helped off my beaten horse. A Russian officer came up and asked me if I spoke French. I told him yes and requested him not to let the savages by whom I was surrounded knock me about. He was uncommonly civil, told me not to be alarmed, they were only rather rough in their manners, so away I was marched."

Wombwell was rescued by the 11th Hussars. He came home and lived at Newburgh Priory until his death in 1913.

[liverpool annie]

Stop me if you've heard it !!!! ..... I can't find George !! 

Accompanying Sir William to Scotland were several American Bison and several American Indians who acted as game keepers. The Indians would occasionally get drunk and would then hitch the bison to Sir William's carriage and take it through town. A creole half breed acted as Sir William's butler.
Sir William before coming to America got into a family dispute whereby he vowed he would never again sleep under the roof of Murthly Castle. His older brother, John, 6th Baronet of Murthly, died childless and, thus, the estate and title descended to Sir William. Although Sir William returned to Scotland, he maintained his vow and lived at first in a game keeper cottage. Later he had an extension built onto the castle in which he would sleep. Servants were instructed to awaken him if he ever fell asleep under the orginal roof. By an early unhappy marriage, Sir William had one son, George, to whom in normal line of succession the tile and the estate would descend. George, however, at the time of the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War was a member of the 13th Hussars remembered in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's tribute. George was one who did not return

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/bridger3.html

[liverpool annie]

Edward Richard Woodham 1831 - 1886
 
Took part in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava 1854 - Chairman of the Battle's 21st anniversary at Alexandra Palace.
 
Buried Highgate Cemetery (East)  Highgate London
 
* EJ Boys - Woodham Pte Edward 1355 11th H

[liverpool annie]

Sir David Dumbreck KCB (1805–1876) was a British Army medical officer.

Dumbreck, the only son of Thomas Dumbreck, collector of inland revenue at Glasgow, by Elizabeth, youngest daughter of David Sutherland of the same service, was born in Aberdeenshire in 1805 and educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated M.D. in 1830, having previously, in 1825, passed as a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. He entered the British Army as a hospital assistant on 3 Nov. 1825, became assistant surgeon in 1826, surgeon in 1841, surgeon-major in 1847, and deputy inspector-general on 28 March 1854.
Prior to the breaking out of hostilities with Russia he was despatched on a special mission early in 1854 to the expected seat of war, and traversed on his mission Servia, Bulgaria, and part of Roumelia, crossing the Balkans on his route. He was subsequently for a short time principal medical officer with the army, and served with it in the field as senior deputy inspector-general, and was present in this capacity and attached to headquarters at the time of the affair of Bulganac, the Alma, capture of Balaklava, battles of Balaklava and Inkerman, and siege of Sebastopol. His rewards were a medal with four clasps, the fourth class of the Medjidie, and the Turkish medal.
He was gazetted C.B. on 4 Feb. 1856, became K.C.B. on 20 May 1871, and was named honorary physician to the Queen on 21 Nov. 1865. On 19 July 1859 he was promoted to be an inspector-general of the medical department, and on 1 May in the following year was placed on half-pay and received a special pension for distinguished services.
He died at 34 Via Montebello, Florence, on 24 Jan. 1876, and his will was proved on 21 March under 12,000 Pounds. He married, on 27 Feb. 1844, Elizabeth Campbell, only daughter of George Gibson of Leith.
His tomb in Florence's English Cemetery carefully depicts his medals

http://www.florin.ms/armynavy.html

( I have never seen this before ... have you ?? .... fascinating !! )

SIR DAVID DUMBRECK / SCOTLAND/ Dumbreck/ David/ Tommaso/ Inghilterra/ Firenze/ 23 Gennaio/ 1876/ Anni 70/ 1342/ GL23777/1 N° 496, Burial 27/01, Rev Tottenham/ Freeman, 230-232 / NDNB entry/ Henderson/ Belle Arti scheda/ [Medals] SIR DAVID DUMBRECK K.C.B./ BORN IN ABERDEENSHIRE 1805/ INSPECTOR GENERAL OF ARMY HOSPITALS AND/ HONORARY PHYSICIAN TO THE QUEEN SERVED WITH/ DISTINCTION IN THE CRIMEA WAS PRESENT AT THE BATTLES OF ALMA BALACLAVA INKERMANN AND THE SEIGE [sic] OF SEBASTOPOL, FOR WHICH HE/ RECEIVED THE CRIMEA MEDAL WITH 4 CLASSES/ THE TURKISH MEDAL AND THE KNIGHTHOOD OF/ THE ORDER OF THE MEDJIDIE/ HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE AT FLORENCE JAN 24 1876/ / UNIVERSALLY REGRETTED/ THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED TO/ HIS MEMORY BY HIS SORROWING WIDOW/ BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD/ REV. XIV.15 / F5C

[Wendi]

His tomb in Florence's English Cemetery carefully depicts his medals

http://www.florin.ms/armynavy.html

...............and underneath the photo's of the medals is a request.......

"We would appreciate help in identifying these medals"

Anyone ?

Wendi 

[liverpool annie]

I don't think anybody really knew the numbers !!  

STATE OF THE REGIMENT ON OCTOBER 25, 1854.

Lieutenant Percy Smith, who was acting adjutant, in a letter, writes, "the number of horses on parade was 108, exclusive of officers."

The Regimental Record gives the strength of the regiment, including officers, as 128.

The History of the 11th Hussars gives the parade state of the 13th on that day as 130.

Trumpeter Powell, on the authority of Corporal Nagle (both of the 13th), places the strength as low as 103.

From a letter to Colonel Anstruther-Thomson, written by Captain Jenyns, we get yet another figure: "We had 110 horses and eight officers when we went into action (young Goad's horse, the one he jumped the timber on, was knocked over by a round-shot early in the day, and the young 'un hurt in the fall)."

Lieutenant Percy Smith, who, by the way, was the only officer who rode through the charge and came back on his original horse, states that when he formed up the remains of the regiment, after the charge

The total loss of the regiment was three officers killed—Captains Oldham and Goad and Cornet Montgomery; Troop Sergeant-Major Weston, and ten rank and file were also killed. Thirty rank and file were wounded, and two Troop Sergeant-Majors, while ten rank and file were taken prisoners.

Captain Percy Smith was also wounded by a lance-thrust.

These numbers are elsewhere stated thus: killed and missing, 69; roll call, 61.

From: C. R. B. Barrett, History of the XIII Hussars, William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1911.

*EJ Boys - Smith Lt Percy 13th LD

[forester]

Hello Annie,

Having a few problems with Scottish ancestry are you?
It's possible your source has used a bit of poetic licence.

This looks like the same family...........

http://www.rootschat.com/links/033o/

"Sir John' eldest son, Sir George, 5th bart, married Catherine, eldest daughter of John Drummond Esq. of Logie Almond and died in 1827, leaving 5 sons and 2 daughters.
The eldest son, Sir John, 6th bart, died without issue, May 20 1838.
His brother, Sir William Drummond Stewart, born Dec. 25 1795, succeeded as 7th baronet. He served in the 15th Hussars in the campaign of 1815 and is a knight of the order of Christ of Italy and Portugal; married in 1830; issue, a son William George, capt 93rd Highlanders, born in Feb. 1831."

Son William George fought in the Crimea and was awarded the VC:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_George_Drummond_Stewart

Phil

[liverpool annie]

Scots Irish Welsh .... even English .... I have a few problems with !! 

hmmmmmm ! but my George didn't come home Phil  - and was with 13th Hussars  

And yours died on 19th October 1868, while at Hythe, Hampshire, Stewart was giving a demonstration of sword swallowing when the trick went fatally wrong. He died from internal injuries on 26th October of that year

Are they the same soldier ??