One for Liverpool Annie Part 2

[liverpool annie]

You have some wonderful family history Mike and some terrific treasures !

You're a lucky man !! 

Annie 

[liverpool annie]

Tom Cunningham sent me this snippet ....... 

1891

An event of profound and lasting significance took place at Manchester on the evening of Friday 31st of July, when a benefit performance was given for the surviving local Balaclava veterans. Seventeen of those were able to be in attendance, and their coats were decorated with medals from the famous Charge of the Light Brigade of 1854, and other battles in which they had seen active service. The Pictorial News singled out

‘… the stalwart figure of Sergeant Nunnerley, late of the 17th Lancers. This old veteran also holds the gold French war medal of that day.’

Of considerable importance for its future evolution as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World was the circumstance that this appears to have been the first occasion on which non-Wild Western elements were successfully translated into the exhibition.

For one night only, the performance began with a display of mounted drill and lance and sword exercise by a detachment of the 12th Lancers, and for the duration the regimental band took the place of the Cowboy Band.

The account of The Pictorial News continued:

‘The musical ride of the troopers of the 12th was particularly fine, the accompanying swinging of the pennoned lances being highly effective. When this had been brought to a conclusion, a selected number of troopers, discarding pennons and cap, gave an exhibition of tent-pegging, which was watched with deep interest, not only by the crowd of spectators, but particularly by the dusky Indian warriors who had gathered around.’   

A company of ‘miniature volunteers’, consisting of boys aged between 6 and 10 years of age, complete with miniature brass band, gave an exhibition drill, and the overall theme of the event appears to have been that of ‘past, present and future’ – a convention of the heroes of the past, the nation’s defenders of the present, and the soldiers of the future - some at least of whom were assuredly destined to meet their doom in the Great War, yet quarter of a century in prospect. No doubt, there was some perceived parallel that connected the futile Charge of the Light Brigade to the doomed ‘heroism’ of Custer’s Last Stand, and thus recommended it to the sympathies of Colonel Cody.

Ambulance drill was also featured in the evening’s programme, and later the old heroes marched once around the arena, raising and waving their hats to the spectators in acknowledgment of the rapturous applause that acclaimed them on all sides.

[forester]

The grave of James Bagshaw (Backshall), Private 1581, 4th Light Dragoons in the churchyard of St Peters Church, Ardingly, West Sussex.

[liverpool annie]

Hi Phil !

Thank you ...... I love those old headstones don't you ??

Do you think thats the same man ...... ?? I can't quite see the date ... is that 1852 ??

if it is .... he couldn't have been at the Charge ... what else do you know about this soldier .... ??

Annie 

[forester]

Hello Annie,

It's 1872. If you go back to post #211, there's a transcription some-one did a few years ago, before the lichen took over.

Phil 

[liverpool annie]

I think I need glasses 'cos of all the squinting !!  ..... I remember now Phil !! ... 

Surname - Bagshaw
Forename -   James
Born -   1837
At -   Ardingly
Occupation -   Labourer
Father -   David of Ardingly Cuckfield Sussex
Regimental number -    1581
Enlisted -    12 01 1854 Brighton aged 17 years 6 months
Height at enlistment - 5' 6˝"
Rank - 1854 - Private 1855 - Private
Taken Prisoner -   25 10 1854 Balaklava -  Released by the Russians 22 10 1855
NOK - Father David Bagshaw, Ardingly Cuckfield Sussex
Sources  - Northern Times 17 11 1854 .... 23 11 1854

Thank you for the photo .... you're good at photos !! 

[seahall]

I will try again as I keep being told I have submitted this post.

Annie asked me to post this photograph of General Mayow in case
other Rootschatters might like to see.

[liverpool annie]

That's wonderful Sandy ! thank you ! 

Now we have to get the information you found over here too !

Annie 

[seahall]

Hi again Annie 

Not sure how you mean so just going to link.

Information noted by other Rootschatters relating to above photograph.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/05oc

If you wish it differently can you do it. 

Sandy