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LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive

Added 17.7.11. Minor edits 2.5.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1269, Private William CROOKS — 17th Lancers

Also recorded as "Crookes".

Birth & early life

Born at Sheffield.

Enlistment

Enlisted at London on the 30th of June 1854.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Cutler.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 29th of June 1855.

At the General Hospital, Scutari, from the 28th of October — 19th of November 1855.

Tried by a District Court-martial on the 23rd of October 1855 for "being asleep on his post". Awarded 40 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Military Train at Cahir on the 18th of October 1856. No Regimental number was allocated.

Transferred back to the 17th Lancers as "unsuitable" on the 25th of November 1856.

Tried by a District Court-martial at Cahir on the 6th of December 1856 for "Theft", and sentenced to 168 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Discharge & pension

Discharged on the "Reduction of the Regiment", from Dublin on the 21st of March 1857.

Served 2 years 122 days.

Conduct and character: "Very bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.

Medals & commemorations

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.

Life after service

1881 Census

434, Oldham Road, Newton, Lancashire.

On the 1881 CensushHe is named as "Crookes", a "File Smith's Journeyman", aged 45.

Also in the household is his wife Priscilla and four sons and two daughters aged between 20 and 2 years. [RM]


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