Added 17.7.11. Minor edits 10.4.14, 2.6.14, 23.12.14.
IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION
562, Private Thomas DYER — 17th Lancers
Birth & early life
Born at Great Woolford, Shipton-on-Stour, Warwickshire c.1819.
Enlistment
Enlisted at London on the 11th of April 1838.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Carpenter.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Lt. brown hair.
Service
Invalided to England from the Crimea on the 20th of October 1855 and sent to the Depot at Brighton.
Rejoined the regiment at Cahir on the 1st of June 1856.
From Private to Corporal: 30th of September 1857.
Sent to the Depot at Canterbury when the regiment left for the Indian Mutiny campaign. 1st of October 1857.
From Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of August 1858.
[PB: In 1861, he appears to have returned to his home village of Great Woolford. It is possible that John Dyer is a cousin rather than his (twin) brother, as John is already living with a brother named Thomas, a Farmer.]
1861 Census
John Dyer, Head, 42, Innkeeper, born Wolford, Warwickshire.
Elizabeth Dyer, Wife, 39.
Helena Dyer, Daughter, Scholar, 4.
Jane Dyer, Daughter, 2.
Thomas Dyer, Brother, 41, Farmer.
George Dyer, Brother, 35, Carpenter.
Richard Dyer, Brother, 31, Carpenter.
Thomas Dyer, 42, Visitor, Serjeant, 17th Lancers.
Ann Harris, 45, Visitor, born Blackwell, Worcestershire.
Emily Harris, 12, Visitor, born Blackwell, Worcestershire.
Sarah Harris, 8, Visitor, born Blackwell, Worcestershire.
Mary A Hurlston, 11, Visitor, born Newbold, Worcestershire.
All the Dyers were born Wolford.
He was a Recruiting Sergeant in London for three years, to the 22nd of February 1864.
Discharge & pension
Discharged from Maidstone on the 5th of March 1864.
Served 25 years 330 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 7 months.
Conduct: "a very good soldier." In possession of four Good Conduct badges when promoted to Sergeant.
Five times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 43 years 9 months on discharge.
Awarded a pension of 1/6d. per day.
He was living in the North London Pension District in 1864.
Next of kin (in 1864): Wife, Harriet Dyer, living at Teddington, Surrey, to whom he had sent money from the Crimea.
To live in London on discharge.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 12th of September 1850.
Portrait of Thomas Dyer, 17th Lancers, in the Illustrated London News, 30th of October 1875.
(Click on image to enlarge)
One of the small souvenir cards given to those who attended the Alexandra Palace Banquet in 1875 has been seen by the author [EJB], on which was written, "17th Lancers. Thomas Dyer, late Sergeant Major, now belonging to Mrs. Eliz. Wills, daughter of the above, 1887."
Further detailed medal information archived.
Life after service
Appointed a Yeoman of the Guard in 1863.
1871 Census
Hatfield House, Portinsgale [Portinscale] Road, All Saints, Wandsworth.
William Withal, 52, Attorney, born Lambeth, Surrey.
Ann Yates, Aunt, 78, Manager of House, Twickenham. Middlesex.
Thomas Dyer, 51, Chelsea Pensioner and General Servant, born Gt Wolford, Warwicks.
Harriett Dyer, 52, born Hayes, Middlesex.
Elizabeth Dyer, 13, born Teddington.
Three female servants are also shown.
[PB, December 2014: Portinscale Road runs northward off West Hill towards East Putney. At the end of the C19 century, Charles Booth described the road as "Large detached houses" and coloured it yellow, for his wealthiest category: "Upper-middle and upper classes. Wealthy." So far as I can tell using Google Earth, most or all have disappeared, their places taken mainly by blocks of low-rise flats.]
Death & burial
Died on the 9th of August 1876. A letter was sent "for information" to the Patriotic Fund on the 11th of October 1876.
Death registered
Thomas Dyer, aged 56 years, September Quarter 1876, Kingston.
Died at 2, Hampton Villas, Teddington, Surrey, on the 9th of August 1876. At the time of his death and the proving of his will he was shown as "formerly of Hatfield House, Wandsworth."
In his will, made on the 2nd of August 1870, he left his two freehold houses in Park Lane, Teddington, (Upper) and the sum of £200 from the Union Assurance Company, to his wife, Harriet [sic] and on her decease to his only daughter, Elizabeth. His wife, Harriet, was still alive at the time of his death.
Further information
Marriage registered
Elizabeth Dyer [daughter] married Edwin Wills c. 1878.
Births registered
Edwin James Wills, June Quarter 1880, Reading.
Ethel Wills, March Quarter,1882, Fulham.
Herbert Edward Wills, June Quarter 1885, Hendon.
Arthur Edwin Wills, June Quarter 1887, Kingston.
Gertrude Wills, March Quarter 1889, Lambeth.
1881 Census
4, Osborn Villas, Putney
Edwin Wills, 32, Waiter, born Teddington.
Elizabeth Wills [daughter], 23, born Teddington.
Edwin Wills, 11 months, born Putney.
A lodger is also shown.
1891 Census
Clarence House, Teddington.
Edwin Wells [sic], 48, Waiter, born Teddington
Elizabeth Wells [daughter], 33, born Teddington,
Edwin J Wells, 10, born Teddington
Ethel H Wells, 8, born Teddington,
Herbert Edward Wells, 5, born Teddington,
Arthur Jas Wells, 3, born Teddington.
Gertrude Louise Wells, 1, born Teddington.
References & acknowledgements
Death registration, Census information for 1871, 1881, and 1891 (with details of TD's daughter Elizabeth's family, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
For further information, or to express an interest in the project, please email the editors, Philip Boys & Roy Mills, via info@chargeofthelightbrigade.com
