Sergeant Elijah Smith

I wonder if anyone can help me find out about my great great grandfather. My mother died recently and in clearing out her house I found medals from the Indian Mutiny and Crimean War and a note explaining that he was in the 23rd Foot 1st Bn RWF. I'm very keen to find out as much as I can about him. From the Census I can see he returned to Oswestry to be porter in the poor house there but I don't know whether service records for him or war diaries for his regiment exist. Any help would be hugely appreciated. Ben

Firstly Ben, my sincere condolances for your loss.

With regards to Elijah Smith, I believe his service number to be 3185. He should have two clasps to his Crimea medal, one for Alma and the other for Sebastapol. His Mutiny Medal should have a single clasp for Lucknow.

He was wounded at the fighting for the Redan during the Crimean War and was eventually discharged on the 3rd March 1863, holding the rank of Colour Sergeant.
I will have a dig to see if I can locate any further info.

Richard

Ben

Further to my last, there should also be another medal. One for Long Service and Good Conduct.

I also need an email address from you. :smileicon:

I have found some service records unders WO97 / 1471 / 59. Only four pages - but you will find them interesting and will help build a picture for you.

First name: Elijah
Last name: SMITH
Calculated year of birth: 1823
Parish of birth: Highworth
Town of birth: Highworth
County of birth: Wiltshire
Age at attestation: 19 years 11 months
Attestation date: 16 February 1842

Richard, that is incredibly good and kind of you. My email is bens@vccpme.com
Yes, have the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal as well a medal inscribed La Crimea 1855 (pink ribbon with blue / grey edging)
Mutiny medal is as described, there is a third clasp for Inkermann on the Crimea medal as well
Really appreciate your time on this and look forward to receiving anything you have
We are having a family gathering in Oswestry this weekend so this is so timely!
Kind regards
Ben

Occasionally little gems pop up in the research threads, this is one of them.

A great collection of medals there Ben. Speak to Richard via email regarding value for insurance purposes. I would take great care of them, I would imagine they they do have some historical value, especially with the service record and the importance of the battles historically to the RWF that Elijah fought at. I would recommend you purchase The Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Vol 1. This will give you an idea of what his service entailed and cover the battles he fought in.

Also another great read; Your ancestor would have probably known the author. "The Prisoners of Voronesh: The Diary of Sgt George Newman, 23rd Regiment of Foot. The Royal Welch Fusiliers, Taken prisoner at Inkerman.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Bo...ch%2Bfusiliers

Ben

The papers are heading your way. Large emails sometimes go missing from my side, so let me know you get them ok. We can then build on these to give you a better understanding of where he was and what the regiment was doing.

I have had a quick look through them, and the Inkermann clasp is also noted, as is the Turkish Crimea medal you describe above. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Crimea_Medal


So as Al has mentioned, you have a very nice group of medals of historical importance, so make sure you look after them.

Have ordered the books and Richard has sent me his discharge papers - thank you for your help - fantastic stuff.
Will certainly donate to the cause here. Rare to find such guidance offered so generously.
Thank God for the military family!
He spent six and a half years in St Helena from the age of 19 before the Crimea / Indian Mutiny...yikes.
Have strong links to that island through friends so keen to find out more now.
Richard has also helped me with Elijah's son-in-law who fought in the Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry.
Following that up as well.
Kind regards
Ben

Very kind of you Ben

Just having a closer look through the papers. Looks like he was wounded on the same day Sgt Luke O'Connor was busy winning his VC.

"At the Battle of Alma, in the Crimea, on 20th September 1884, Sergeant O'CONNOR advanced between two officers, one of them, Lieutenant Anstruther, was carrying the Regimental Colour when he was mortally wounded, Sergeant O'CONNOR was shot in the breast at the same time, he fell, but recovered himself, picked up the Colour from the ground and carried it, in spite of his wound, to the end of the action. He was urged to relinquish it several times, because of his wound, by Captain Granville. He also, on the 8th September, 1855 behaved with utmost gallantry at the assault on the Redan where he received shot wounds through both thighs."

Cracking stuff

Attachment 2901