Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Charge of the Light Brigade pair awarded to Private Charles Newman, 11th Hussars

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (No. 1505. Chas. Newman. XIth. P.A.O. Hussars.) naming impressed in the correct regimental style; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1505 Charles Newman XI PAO Hussars) fitted with contemporary replacement ring suspension, the first fitted with ‘Bailey Coventry’ top suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £3000-3500

Charles Newman was born in the Parish of East Leek, Loughborough, Nottinghamshire, and attested for the 11th Hussars at Nottingham on 7 June 1851, at the age of 18 years, a Framework Knitter by trade. He served in Bulgaria and the Crimea for a period of two years and was present at the battles of the Alma, Balaklava and Inkermann, and the siege of Sebastopol (Medal with 4 clasps, Turkish medal). He was in hospital from January to June 1855, suffering from frostbite, his discharge papers noting ‘was frostbitten in left big toe in the Crimea during the winter of 1854’. He was discharged on 12 June 1863, being in possession of ‘two good conduct badges, the Crimean Medal with clasps for Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann & Sebastopol, & the Turkish Crimea Medal’.

Charles Newman returned to live at Ruddington, in Nottinghamshire, where he clearly fell upon hard times in the absence of any form of pension for his military service. In May 1890 a public scandal erupted when it was discovered that many veterans of the Charge of the Light Brigade were destitute. The Secretary of State for War stated in Parliament that he would not offer assistance and in response the St James’ Gazette set up the Light Brigade Fund.

On 30 July 1890 Florence Nightingale, Alfred Tennyson, and Martin Lanfried, veteran trumpeter, made a recording with the proceeds going to the veterans. Charles Newman was vetted by the Light Brigade Relief Fund and appears on the second schedule of claimants on the Annuity Fund in 1891, of those not in receipt of a pension and deserving survivors who are known to be in great poverty and are considered by the committee suitable claimants for annuities. Newman is consequently recorded as having received funds care of the Rev. C. S. Millard, of Coslock, Nottinghamshire. Early in 1892 Parliament made pensions available to soldiers with 10 years service and upwards who had served in the Russian War; indeed Newman’s discharge papers carry the stamp of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, dated 17 March 1892, almost certainly in relation to this new pension provision. Despite this, Newman was one of the 21 veterans who continued to receive money from the Light Brigade Relief Fund until at least the end of the year 1896.

Charles Newman died at Ruddington, Notts., on 6 April 1897. The Irish Times, of 8 April 1897, reported ‘Charles Newman who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade murderously attacked his wife at Ruddington on Tuesday night, and committed suicide by cutting his throat. The wife is in a precarious condition. The parties frequently quarrelled and Newman drank.’