Born on the 10th of June 1830 at Old Bilton, a hamlet on the outskirts of Knaresborough, where his family had resided since the 17th century.
Enlisted at Sheffield on the 2nd of May 1846.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Butcher.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 27th of August 1851.
Corporal to Sergeant 23rd of September 1854.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
He is shown on the Regimental "married roll" from the 20th of September 1859, his wife's name being Eliza.
The India Office records show that he had married Eliza Mary Kriesa [Kreisa?] in Christ's Church, Gwalior, India, on the 20th of September 1859. He was shown as being Provost Sergeant of the 17th Lancers, and a bachelor, aged 29 years. His bride was a spinster, aged 20 years. Both were shown as being from Morar [PB:sic? The Scottish village near Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland?]. The marriage was by licence, the ceremony being performed by the Revd. E.W. Tarlton, Chaplain to the Forces and the witnesses were Charles Wooden, V.C. and Francis Sherrin. His father was shown as Francis Dickinson and hers as B. Larnes [sic] Kreiza.
Her father, B.J. [sic] Kreiza, Master Taylor [sic], attached to the 17th Lancers, died at Gwalior on the 30th of June 1859, from "Febris C.C." aged 59 years. He was buried on the same day by the Revd. E.W. Tarleton, Chaplain. Her mother, Mary Kreiza, — Widow of the late B.J. Krieza, Master Tailor, attached to the 17th Lancers, died at Gwalior on the 17th of November 1859, aged 46 years, from "General debility and Diarrhoea". She was buried on the 18th of November by the Revd. E. Tarlton, Chaplain.
The India Office records show a son, Francis Kreisa, born on the 12th of September 1860, and baptised on the 9th of November by the Reverend Thomas A. Pratt, and a daughter, Isabella Mary Ann, born on the 8th of August 1862 and baptised on the 4th of September by the Revd. B. Fatteo, both at Secunderabad, India, to Francis Dickinson, 17th Lancers, and his wife, Eliza Mary. Another son, Alfred G.K., was born at Aldershot in 1867.
According to his great-grandson, Mr. G.D. Speight, his grandmother was reputed to be the daughter of a Baron Krezier of Vienna, subsequently being dispossessed for daring to marry a common soldier.
Apparently Dickinson had a sister who was a well-known actress at the Lyceum Theatre, London, when it was under the management of Charles Matthews and Madame Vestris. An elder brother, G.K. Dickinson, was one of the principal actors at the Sadler's Wells. Miss Dickinson seems to have died in Madeira, and is buried in a vault next to members of the Norfolk family. She was interred at the expense of Mrs. West (mother of Mrs. Cornwallis-West, of Ruthvin Castle). The actor brother died of fever in Jamaica.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 6th of May 1860.
Discharged from Dublin on the 25th of May 1870, as "Free discharge to pension, after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 20 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years. India,
7 years 1 month.
Conduct: "very good". Would have been in possession of five Good Conduct badges if he had not been promoted to an N.C.O.
Aged 44 years on discharge.
Was granted a pension of 2/- per day.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll. (See later reference to his wearing of this medal.)
The muster rolls for the period July-September 1858 show him as no particular service movement having taken place.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 24th of July 1867.
His medals, Crimean, Mutiny and Long Service, Regimental badge, photograph and an inscribed silver cup (said to have been presented to him by his Troop at the time of his discharge from the Army) are in the Sheffield Museum, to which they were presented by his grand-daughter, a Mrs. Smedley, of Bishopstoke, Hampshire, some time during World War Two. The Museum acquisition record, dated the 8th of March 1945, shows the following details about the inscribed cup:
"Cup and Cover, electro-plate, circular foot, two handles, each terminating in a mask, chased and repousse floral ornaments, oval shields on each side, and engraved with badge of the 17th Lancers over crossed pennants with crown and "Seventeenth" above and "Lancers" below, both on ribbon and inscription "Presented to Sqn. Sergeant Major Fras. Dickenson by the men of C Squadron on his leaving the Regiment, as a token of their esteem. Hamilton, 2nd of May 1870." The cup is stamped FR. & S. EP."
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
Attended the Annual Dinner in 1893.
Francis Dickinson — a native of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, Francis formed part of the Charge of the Light Brigade of Balaclava. After service in India he retired to Sheffield, becoming the landlord of the Earl Grey Public House. He later joined the Sheffield Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veterans Association. His medals are part of the Museums Sheffield collection. He was buried with full military honours in Sheffield General Cemetery in June 1898 though his gravestone no longer survives.
[Source: ( https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/research-guides/crimean-war.html (accessed 2.6.2014).]]
At discharge he said he was intending to live in East Ecclesham [Eccleshall?] Road, Stafford, but lived in the Sheffield Pension District.
[PB, June 2014: The references to "Eccleshall" in Sheffield below may be a mis-spelling of "Ecclesall".]
Francis Dickenson was at one time landlord of the "Earl Grey" public house in Eccleshall Road, Sheffield.
1871 Census
97 Eccleshall Road, Eccleshall Berlow, Sheffield.
Francis Dickinson, 41, Licensed Victualler.
Elizabeth Mary, 32.
Francis Keisa, 10, born Madras.
Isabella Marianne, 8.
Alfred George Kerria, 3, born Aldershot.
Also 2 Servants.
1881 Census
Ecclesfield, (Sheffield) York [complete address?]
The 1881 Census shows him as [age?], a "Timekeeper Chelsea Pensioner", born Knaresborough.
His wife is shown as Eliza Mary, 42, born Islington, London.
Three children are also listed in the household:
Isabella, 18, born Secunderabad, Madras.
Alfred, 13, born Aldershot.
Marianne, 5, born Sheffield. [RM]
In an Account and Address Book formerly used by James W. Wightman when Secretary of the Balaclava Society, Dickenson's address was shown as "No. 43 Cecil Road, High Field, Sheffield."
1891 Census
20 Tillotson Road, Heeley, Sheffield.
Francis Dickinson, 61, Army Pensioner, born Knaresborough.
Eliza M., 52, born Islington.
Marianne, 15, born Sheffield.
At some time in the 1890s he was living at 20, Tilston Road, Sheffield.
Marriage registered
Marianne Dickinson married Walter Smedley at Ecclesall Bierlow in the June Quarter of 1898.
Died at 139. Albert Road, Sheffield, on the 15th of June 1898, aged 68 years. He was buried in the Sheffield General Cemetery on the 16th of June 1898 with full military honours. The grave site is P2/63 and also interred in the same grave are Mary Ann Dickinson, of Oaks Bank, Broomhill, who died on the 1st of December 1868, aged 72 years, and Francis Dickinson of Ecclesall Union, who died on the 28th of December 1882, aged 87 years. Possibly his father and mother.
See copies of his obituary and funeral reports taken from the local newspapers of the time in the 17th Lancer file.
Extract from the Sheffield Daily Independent, 20th of June 1898:
"One of the Six Hundred. — Funeral of the late Serjt. Major Dickinson: The fullest military honours which could be paid to a rank-and-file member of the British Army were accorded to the memory of Sergeant Major Dickinson, a member of the famous charge of the Light Brigade, when his remains were laid to rest in the General Cemetery at Sheffield on Saturday last. The survivors of the gallant charge now number but a handful, and as they become fewer all classes of the public now appear to be anxious to demonstrate their appreciation of the heroism of their deed of daring with increased earnestness and heartiness.
The funeral of Sergeant Major Dickinson was quite an imposing pageant. All the veteran soldiers in the district who have their health, representatives of the regular troops stationed at Sheffield and many of the local Volunteers took part in it, while thousands of people witnessed the mournful but highly impressive ceremony. Colonel Bingham, who has done so much to awaken the practical sympathy of the public in Sheffield for the heroes who have fought and suffered in the battles of the Empire, and who, by means of the organisation he helped to create, has enabled many of them to end their days in comfort instead of penury, was also present.
As has before been stated, the deceased was a Troop Sergeant Major in the 17th Lancers (Death or Glory Boys) which formed part of the Light Brigade which rode in the Charge at Balaclava. He died at his residence, No. 239 Albert Road, Healey, on Wednesday, his age being 68. Mr. Dickinson was well-known in Sheffield, and by the thoughtfulness of Col. Bingham he was a guest at the luncheon which that gentleman gave to the Colonial troops when they came to Sheffield. The visitors were simply delighted to learn that a member of the Light Brigade was amongst their company and they declared, one and all, that there was no incident of their stay in England which they would not relate to their friends with more pride than in their handshake with the deceased Sergeant Major.
The funeral procession started from the house about a quarter-past two o'clock and along the route leading to the General Cemetery large crowds had gathered. The procession was headed by a firing-party of twenty men from the Lincolnshire Regiment under Sergeant May, and next followed the band of the regiment, forty strong, the entire party being under the command of Drum-Major Brown, Next followed a gun-carriage of the 4th West Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery, on which was placed the coffin, the detachment in charge being Sergeant Major Arnley, Sgts. Kettle, Londs, Allen, Bingham, De Bell, Corporal Dickinson and Bombardier Galloway.
Behind the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, and on which was placed the deceased's sword and a case containing his medals, came a riderless horse, led by Sgts. Kettle and Allen, and behind them carriages containing the mourners, who were as follows: Mrs. Dickinson (widow) Mrs. Speight (daughter) Mr. Alfred Dickinson (son) Mrs. Walter Smedley (daughter) Mr. Speight, Mrs. Alfred Dickinson, Mr. W. Smedley, Mrs. Mellor and Mrs. Pybus (sisters) Mr. and Mrs. Perkins (nephew and niece) Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Robinson, Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Staniforth. Mr. Francis Dickinson (the deceased's eldest son) is living in Conneticut, U.S.A:
"Next followed the members of the Crimean and Mutiny Veteran's Association, who were led by Mr. Partington, the hon. secretary. The veterans, who wore their badges and medals, were as follows; Sergeant Grayson, Second Bays, Sergeant Boyd (Baggage Master) Sergeant Greatbach, Pte.'s T. M. Taylor and W. Fletcher, 7th Hussars, Corporal Arthur Rooney, 14th Regiment, Corporal J. Jackson, Royal Artillery, Private Joseph Bradshaw, 45th Regiment, Seaman W. Bayley, Naval Brigade, Colour Sergeant Heaney, 1st Bn. 14th Regiment, Thomas Smith, 3rd Grenadier Guards, Privates Benjamin Lowe and C. Hames, 97th Regiment, John Watts, Richard Shepherd, Jabez Shaw and Charles Birch, 97th Regiment, William Vennimore, 1st Bn. 19th Regiment, W. Woollen, 7th Dragoon Guards, Richard Sheffield, 13th Light Dragoons, William Kelly, 1st Royal Foot, F. Kelley, 95th Derbyshire, Peter Kelly, 7th Fusiliers, Albert Rosen, 1st Rifle Brigade and Colour-Sergeant Doyle, Yorks and Lancs. Regiment.
In the rear came representatives of the Sheffield Volunteer Regiments, the rear being brought up by Lt. Colonel J.M. Bingham (1st West Yorkshire Volunteer Royal Engineers) and Captain Percival, (Adjutant, 1st West Yorkshire Volunteer Royal Engineers.)
The other representatives of the Volunteers who attended were as follows; Engineers, — Sergeant Major Dalton and Sergeant Instructor Baker, Sergeant Major G. Mansfield, Sgts. Groundsel, H.B. Ellis and Lee — Hallamshire Rifles, Sergeant Round, and several privates. Colonel Bingham was present in the dual capacity of Commanding Officer of the Engineers and President of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veteran's Association.
As the procession left the house the Band of the Lincolnshire's played the "Song of Death" and on approaching the cemetery the Dead March in "Saul" was rendered, the effect being most mournful and impressive. The service in the church and at the graveside was conducted by the Revd. H.F. Kennedy. At the conclusion of the service the firing party fired three volleys of blank cartridges, the firing being interspersed by the band playing the hymn, 'Days and Moments Quickly Flying'. There was a large crowd of people lining the approaches to the cemetery and in the cemetery itself, but good order was kept by Inspector Walsh and his men."
Extract from the Morning Telegraph, 3rd of June 1980:
"Crimean hero's gravestone to get new resting place. The memorial to a man who escaped the Valley of Death in the Crimea has made an escape of a different sort — from a Council bull-dozer. The gravestone of Troop Sergeant Major Francis Dickinson, one of the Six Hundred who rode to everlasting fame beneath the guns of Balaclava, will soon be moving to its final resting place, with military honours. For many years it has simply been one of hundreds in the jungle of the General Cemetery at Sheffield. But, as other stones are swept away in the massive clean-up it will survive, because of a great grandson who cares. It will end up either at Belvoir Castle, home of the Duke of Rutland — where the 17th/21st Lancers have a Museum — or to the Royal Military Hospital at Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners.
It is all thanks to city business-man Geoffrey Dickinson Speight, who has been keeping an eye on the grave on and off since he was a small boy. When the act went through Parliament enabling the city to turn the long-disused cemetery into an open space he thought he might set up the gravestone at his home, although instead, he decided that the best permanent home for it would be with the Army. Although not originally from Sheffield, Dickenson's parents had moved there from his birthplace at Old Bilton, near Knaresborough, and he first took up the Queen's shilling at the 'Brown Cow' pub. Mr. Speight does not know just how old his great-grandfather was when he joined the 17th Lancers, but he had been an apprentice before he left the city.
The Charge of the Light Brigade took place on the 25th of October 1854, when Troop Sergeant Dickenson was 24. It was all due to a mix-up of signals between the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Raglan, to Lord Cardigan, commanding the Light Brigade. The result was that the 600 — actually nearer 670 — found themselves running the lethal gauntlet of the Russian guns. Hence Tennyson's words, 'Theirs not to make reply — theirs not to reason why'. An estimated forty per cent of the men who began that fatal ride did not emerge from the charge — but one man who did, went on to serve in India and then return to Sheffield to become the landlord of the 'Earl Grey' in Eccleshaw Road. Mr. Speight said, 'When he died he had a full military funeral, with a procession and bands. He was a hero.'"
There is a photograph in the 17th Lancer file of Sheffield General Cemetery after it was "landscaped". The Dickinson gravesite is approximately in the centre of the picture.
See photograph of the gravestone after it had been removed and awaiting final disposal, in the 17th Lancer file. See large photographs of him by editor and notes by descendant.
[PB, June 2014: Francis Dickinson's gravesite is marked on an online map on the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust's website. The pop-up caption reads:
"Francis Dickinson 1830 — 1898. One of the six hundred"
The words above were engraved on the gravestone of Francis Dickinson.
He was one of the soldiers who fought in the notorious Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean war.
The cavalry was wrongly sent into battle only to be slaughtered by Russian cannon fire. 670 horsemen were ordered to charge the enemy and only 195 returned — Francis Dickinson was among them.
Francis was a Troop Sergeant in the Late 17th Lancers and died in June 1898. He was buried in the middle of what is now the open area.
[ http://www.gencem.org/residents.php (accessed 2nd June 2014)]
There are copies of testimonials relating to his character in the 17th Lancer file.
See also copy of a photograph of him wearing his medals in the 17th Lancer file. Although his obituary report credits him with the clasp for Central India, that pictured is without clasp.
1901 Census
63 ,Sandford Grove Place, Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorks.
Walter Smedley, 28.
Marianne [daughter], 28.
Francis, 2.
Eliza M Dickinson, 62, mother in law.
Also a Servant.
Death registered
Elizabeth Dickinson [wife], 64, Ecclesall Bierlow, September 1909.
Registration of marriage and death, and Census information for 1871, 1891 & 1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
PB: There is a large printed testimonial to FD in EJBA 17L File vol 6.