Born at Dover, Kent.
Enlisted in London on the 26th of October 1843.
Age: 17 years 3 months.
Features: Grey eyes. Brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 26th of July 1850.
Corporal to Sergeant: 10th of May 1854.
Taken prisoner of war by the Russians on the 13th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 26th of October 1855.
He was shown on a nominal roll of men of the Regiment made out at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, on the 9th of November 1855 as being a Prisoner of War there from the 4th of November.
Extract from the Regimental History on Alderson's capture:
"The out-lying picket had been ordered to proceed to the river Tchernya, but not go beyond it. The officer-in charge, Captain Oldham (later to lose his life in the Charge) had instructions to discover all that he could about the Russians on the opposite bank. The party consisted of an officer, a sergeant, and 15 men.The Sergeant and four men were told off to advance to the front, and extending 300 yards apart, to go forward to the river. The remaining men, together with their officer, followed along the plain. Following their orders, the smaller party closed in on the bridge.
The Captain now galloped to the advanced party, leaving the rest of the men halted. After giving more orders to the forward patrol the officer returned to them, but whilst doing so the latter saw the Sergeant cross the bridge and go up the hill on the opposite side. Out from the trees rode four Russian hussars in pursuit, and over the top three more came to meet him. The Sergeant turned to his left and rode alongside the hill towards the Russian camp, but his pursuers closing in on him was finally taken prisoner.
The men in the rear had moved towards the river hoping to create a diversion and allow the Sergeant to escape across the river lower down. En route, they met the officer, who reprimanded them for moving without orders. The situation being explained, and although in possession of an eyeglass, he said that he could see nothing of the pursuers and on the men averring that the Sergeant had been taken prisoner they received the remark, 'And serves him right too. Why did he not ride at them and bowl them over.'
It is believed that Captain Oldham was placed under 'open arrest' by Lord Cardigan, but as senior captain, he later led the 13th L.D. at Balaclava."
[RM: This incident is also referred to in Albert Mitchell's Memoirs.]
Appointed to Troop Sergeant-Major on the 20th of October 1857.
Served in Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years.
In Canada: 1 year 7 months.
Conduct: "very good". In possession of two Good Conduct badges and would now have had four if not promoted.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Returned to the Depot at Canterbury from Canada on the 23rd of May 1868 and discharged "at his own request, free with pension after 24 years service", from Canterbury on the 23rd of June 1868.
From the 6th of May 1884, his original pension of 24d. per day was increased to 31d. per day after 15 years service as Troop Sergeant-Major on the Permanent Staff of the Wiltshire Yeomanry at Warminster.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with two clasps and the Turkish medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 2nd of August 1865, with a gratuity of £5.
To live at No. 7 Dunstable Villas, Richmond, Surrey, after discharge.
1871 Census
Cottage, Walton, Wellesborough Hastings.
The 1871 Census shows him living at Cottage, Walton, Wellesborough Hastings, a "Chelsea Pensioner", aged 45, with his wife Sarah 37, children Henry 5, Frederick 4, Emily 6, and Walter 10 months.
1881 Census
Henry J. Alderson, born Dover, Kent, a Chelsea Pensioner, aged 54, still living in Wellesbourne [sic?] Hastings, Warwick, with his wife Sarah and sons Frederick 14, and Walter 10.
1901 Census
Civil parish of Hardwick, near Wellingborough, Northants.
, aged 74, an "Army Pensioner". He was living at the Schoolhouse with his wife Sarah, aged 68, and his unmarried daughter Emily, aged 36, a "schoolteacher", born Aldershot. Three other persons are present as "boarders".
1911 Census
His wife Sarah, aged 76, and his daughter, 46, were still living at the 1901 address.
Death registered
The death of Sarah Ann Alderson, 79, was registered in Wellingborough in the December Quarter of 1913.
Death registered
HJA's death, aged 77, was registered in Wellingborough in the December quarter of 1904.
Registration of deaths, and Census information for 1911, kindly provided by Chris Poole.