Born in Kirkee, India, on the 11th of December 1833, being baptised on the 2nd of February 1834. He was the son of Sergeant Richard Tilling of the 4th Light Dragoons, who had married Mary Flood (a spinster) in the School Room at Kirkee (after banns) on the 7th of December 1832. The service was conducted by the Revd. Randall Ward, Chaplain, and witnessed by George and Charlotte Kemp and Charles Webb, Chaplain's Clerk. His sister, Emma Tilling, was born at Bombay on the 9th of February 1836 and baptised on the 8th of May. At the time of the birth of Emma Tilling her father was shown as Acting T.S.M. Richard Tilling was himself baptised at Croydon on the 15th of November 1807, being the second son of Richard and Jane Tilling, (nee Peglar.)
Enlisted at Dublin on the 29th of January 1848 and to serve in the "Band."
Age: 14 years 2 months.
Height: 5' 0".
Trade: None.
Attained the age of 15 years and on the "Man's Pay" on the 1st of December 1848.
Promoted to Trumpeter on the 6th of July 1853.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Died "in the Crimea," on the 25th of June 1855.
Next of kin: Sister, Emma Tilling, living in Croydon, Surrey.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Mr. Brian Davies, of South Croydon, who is related to the Tilling family through his mother, states that other members of the family eventually formed the omnibus and general transport group later known as "Thomas Tilling's", the forerunner of the London Transport system. He also provided the information on the origins of Richard Tilling.
Born in Croydon, Surrey, Richard Tilling had enlisted on the 9th of September 1825, his trade being that of a brick-layer. His Regimental No. was 280. He was a Troop Sgt,. Major when he returned to England aboard the "Mary" on the 13th of March 1842. Reduced to Private by a Court-martial (no reason being shown) on the 23rd of June 1843. From Private to Corporal: on the 1st of January 1845. He went to the Invalid Depot on the 1st of September and was promoted to Sergeant on his return on the 4th of October 1847. Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major again on the 1st of January 1848 he went on "sick furlo" from the 23rd of September - 15th of December of that same year. Sent to the Invalid Depot at Dublin on the 16th of December 1848, and where he died on the 29th of December 1848. He left no will, and his son, No. 1531 William Richard Tilling (with the Regiment) was shown as his next-of-kin. The muster roll for the period shows him as being "On Service in Scinde," and a later entry at the time of his death confirms that he was entitled to the medal for Ghuznee.
The Returned Medal book shows - Crimean medal returned to the Mint. No trace of issue.