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

Added 2.12.12. Minor edits 15.4.14.

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

1203 George CHESSMAN — 8th Hussars

Birth & early life

Born at Egham, Surrey.

Enlistment

Enlisted at Heston on the 11th of December 1851.

Age: 18.

Height: 5' 7".

Trade: Labourer.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.

Service

Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Shooting Star" on the 25th of April 1854.

At Scutari from the 26th of October — 9th of December 1854.

Tried by a District Court-martial on the 4th of May 1855 for "being drunk whilst conveying an Army dispatch." Awarded 50 lashes, but this sentence was remitted.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Dundalk on the 29th of January 1857.

"Totally unfit for further service. Has Enuresis of the right eye — caused by a stone thrown up by the horse in front of him. The accident occurred on duty on the 25th of September 1854."

Aged 23 years 2 months on discharge.

Served 5 years 48 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 9 months. Was granted a pension of 7d per day for 1 year 6 months.

To live in the South London Pension District and was still there in 1875.

Refused further pension on the 29th of November 1895.

Granted a pension of 9d. per day following a medical board which sat on the 19th of September 1897.

Refused further pension — "as long as he can see from the left eye." 12th of November 1900.

Letter from him asking that — "Medals (if any) may be recorded" — dated the 16th of May 1902. Entry in red ink. The War Office, 26th of May 1902. "Awarded Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol..."

Called up for a Medical Board at Windsor and recommended an increase to 18d. per day, and this was sanctioned on the 27th of August 1902.

Medals & commemorations

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol.

Further detailed medal information archived.

Life after service

Death & burial


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