Died on the 27th of February 1916 at 75, Walton Street, Oxford.
Buried on the 2nd of March 1916 in St. Sepulchre's Cemetery, Oxford.
See copy of a photograph of his tombstone, which also commemorates his wife, in the 4th Hussar file.
"Death of an Oxford Veteran"
"The death of Mr Henry Wilsdon [sic] one the few remaining survivors of the memorable charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, occurred at his residence of his son, Mr, R.B. Wilsdon, of 73 Walton Street, Oxford, on Sunday.
He had resided there since his wife died about two years ago. Although 91 years of age, he was able to get about, and was out three days before his death. He was a native of Woodstock, and enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons in 1848.
He was in the band of that Regiment, ten of the members of which were in the Charge. Four were killed, two taken prisoner, and Wilsdon and Private Grey escaped.
He was also at the battle of Inkerman and possessed the Crimean medal with four clasps.
Mr. Wilsdon regularly attended the Annual Balaclava Dinner in London, and was a member of the Old Comrade's Society (4th Hussars.).
He had married, on the 26th of September 1860, Ann Crook, a native of Booker, High Wycombe. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1910.
Six years after enlisting in the 4th Queen's Own Light Dragoons in Ireland, Mr Wilsdon went out to the Crimea, and returned to England in 1856.
Mr Wilsdon had an especial friend in the regiment, a man named John Edden [this was1481 John Edden, 4th Light Dragoons], to whom, while in the heat of the charge he handed a bottle of water, which revived Edden, and enabled him to reach a place of safety.
For many years Mr Wilsdon did not see his old friend, but at the Dinner given in 1875 to the survivors of the gallant "600" the two comrades met again and Edden, a Lancashire man [actually, Staffordshire!] , exclaimed to Wilsdon, "Eh, Harry, God bless you; you saved my life."
It is interesting to note that Mr H.B. Wilsdon, the organist at St. Giles's Church, and the only son of the deceased, has five sons in the Army, three in France and two in India...
The Funeral
The funeral at St. Sepulchre's Cemetery, Walton Street, took place on Thursday afternoon, with military honours.
The procession assembled outside of No. 73 Walton Street, only a short distance of the Cemetery gates. A firing party of the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, with which regiment the deceased was associated with for a number of years after his service with the light cavalry, preceded the coffin, and bore a busby, spurs, and a case containing the veteran's medals and spurs.
The bearers were eight Corporals of the 30th Batt. of the Royal Fusiliers. The band of the "Sportsman's Batt. Royal Fusiliers (Bandmaster Thompson) played the "Last Honours" march and a detachment of men of the same battalion followed immediately after the mourners, and about forty members of the A. and B. Companies of the Volunteer Training Corps (Oxfordshire, 1st Battalion) under Company Commander F.E. Openshaw, brought up the rear. The family mourners were Mr and Mrs H.B. Wilsdon,
Mr. Frank Dobson, (only surviving nephew) from London, Mrs George Wilsdon and her son, Mr Frank Wilsdon. The Revd. C.C. Inge. Vicar of St. Giles' officiated.
After the conclusion of the service at the grave-side the firing party, in charge of Sergeant Northam, then discharged three volleys and the buglers of the "Sportsman's" Battalion sounded the "Last Post".
Amongst those who attended to show honour to an old comrade was Mr William Robertson, Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Mutiny veteran, who was wearing his medal.
There were wreaths from Mr and Mrs H.B. Wilson (son-and daughter-in-law) five grandsons, Bernard, Douglas, Harry, Jack and Ron, Nellie and Louis (niece and nephew) Frank and [?] (nephew and niece), Mr and Mrs Whittick, Mr and Mrs W. Gill, Mr and Mrs J.H. Kempster, Miss Acland, and from the members of the Central Conservative Club.
