Thomas Allistone
Thomas Allistone (or Allison), (13 June 1823 - 27 October 1896) was a soldier in the 11th Hussars who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
[edit]Allistone was born 13 June 1823 at Worton Lane, Isleworth, and baptised 13 July. His parents were William and Elizabeth Allistone.[5] His occupation before enlisting was recorded as a groom.[6]
Army career
[edit]He enlisted in the 11th Hussars 25 April 1842 and went on to serve over 16 years. In 1851 he was a Private (number 1128) at Pockthorpe cavalry barracks, Norwich.[7][8] Their uniform consisted of a blue dolman (jacket), a pelisse, fur busby, a sky blue wool vest and crimson trousers with yellow stripes; they were sometimes known as the "Cherry Pickers".
The regiment arrived in Turkey in June 1854. On 25 October 1854 he took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. He was one of only 18 survivors out of 200 in the 11th Hussars. "Only 18 of that regiment survived, and the deceased was one of them, coming out of the fray without a scratch."[1]
He received two medals: the Crimean War Medal, with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sevastopol, and the Turkish Crimea Medal.[1][6] He was discharged from the army in 23 December 1858 in Brighton at his own request, possibly because the regiment had been put in readiness to embark for India at the start of the Indian Mutiny.[6][9] He attended the 21st Anniversary Reunion dinner at Alexandra Palace on 25 October 1875.[10] He was a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society.[6]
Allistone is not listed as a confirmed Charger although he attended the 1875 banquet.[6] After 1878 only those known to have actually engaged in the Charge were admitted for membership. There are no regimental records of who rode in the Charge and who did not because they were sick or on other duties. Only those who were killed or wounded, taken prisoner, documented as charging or were members of the Balaklava Commemoration Society after 1878 are recognised as Chargers by Brighton in his book "Hell Riders".[11] Williams in "The Historical Records of the Eleventh Hussars" records that 110 were on parade, 85 were killed or missing and 25 survived. The total for the Light Brigade came to 607 and 409 killed or missing.[9]
Later career
[edit]After leaving the army he was recorded in 1861 as a coachman lodging in Vine Row, Richmond, with his wife Sarah.[12]
He then spent 14 years as a warder at Millbank Prison;[1] in 1871 he was living at 6 Cedar Terrace, Lambeth.[13] From 1853 Millbank was a local prison becoming a military prison in 1870 and it ceased to be a prison by 1886.
Later he became a coachman for Mr Piggott in Richmond;[4] in 1881 and 1886 was residing at White Lodge, Marshgate Road (now Sheen Road), Richmond.[14][15] Sarah was then a housekeeper at 1, Pavilion Place, Turnham Green, Chiswick.
He and Sarah then lived at 1 Hickey's Almshouses, Richmond, where they both died.[16]
-
Millbank Prison -
Hickey's Almshouses -
'The Story of Balaclava told by one of the survivors'
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His portrait, entitled 'The Story of Balaclava told by one of the survivors (Thomas Allison)', was painted by Julia Beatrice Matthews (1862-1948) and was exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1894.[17] The artist lived with her family in Richmond since at least 1881, exhibited from 1893 and later moved to Newlyn after her marriage.[18]
Personal life
[edit]He married Sarah Wilton (b c1814, Isleworth) on 16 December 1856 at Hounslow Parish Church. They were both residing in Hounslow at the time, possibly at the Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow.[19] The regiment was then based in Canterbury but moved to Hounslow in March 1857.[9] His wife died September 1892 and was buried in Richmond Old Burial Ground.[20]
Allistone died from the 'decay of old age' on 27 October 1896, at Hickey's Almshouses; Charlotte Durham, his neice, was present and registered his death.[2][21]
Funeral
[edit]The funeral service took place at Hickey's Almshouse chapel attended by the inmates.[1] His coffin was then given a military funeral and carried by six members of the Scots Greys from Hounslow and placed on a gun-carriage, covered with the Union Jack, his medals and wreaths. The funeral was attended by Sir Charles and Lady Rugge-Price; he was Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey and a Justice of the Peace. Allistone was buried in a common grave in Richmond Cemetery.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "A Balaclava Hero's Burial". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 31 October 1896. p. 6.
A Balaclava Hero's Burial. Following quickly on the one we reported in our Wednesday's issue has come another military burial in Richmond. This took place yesterday, when Trooper Thomas Allistone, a late inmate of Hickey's Almshouses was laid to his rest. More importance attached to the ceremony from the fact that the dead soldier was a Balaclava hero, having ridden in the memorable charge of "The Six Hundred." He was born at Worton Lane, Isleworth, and had served 16½ years in the 11th Hussars with 200 of whom he rode "Into the Valley of Death". Only 18 of that regiment survived, and he was one of them, coming out of the fray without a scratch. On leaving the service, the possessor of two medals, one for the Crimea and the Turkish medal, he was appointed a warder at Millbank Prison, and for fourteen years had charge of a number of cells there. The corpse was taken into Hickey's Chapel, where part of the service was conducted by the Rev. Lionel Walsh. He referred in sympathetic tones to the career of the deceased trooper, and was glad to see that their departed friend was to be carried with honour to his last resting place. At the close of the service the strains of the "Dead March" in "Saul" came from the organ, as the six carriers of the escort of Scots Greys raised the coffin to their shoulders, and keeping time to the solemn music, slowly wended their way to the gun-carriage which was to convey the remains of their soldier comrade to the cemetery. Sir Charles and Lady Rugge-Price walked immediately behind the coffin, which was enveloped with the Union Jack, fastened on with the deceased's medals, and covered with wreaths, and then came the mourners. The coffin having been deposited on the gun-carriage, Sergeant Washington, who was in charge of the escort, gave the order to "Salute" and the swords flashed for a moment in the sun, and then with swords at the "carry", they formed into half sections and slowly led the way up Queen's road to the cemetery, where, in the presence of a large crowd of sympathetic spectators the concluding portion of the Burial Service was read, and the coffin lowered by the six stalwart "Scots". After the funeral, Sir Charles and Lady Rugge-Price entertained the escort at lunch.
- ^ a b "Military Funerals". Richmond Herald. 31 October 1896. p. 6.
- ^ "A Balaclava hero buried with military honours". Illustrated Police News. 7 November 1896 – via British Library Newspapers.
- ^ a b "ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE". Echo (London). 31 October 1896. p. 2.
Thomas Allison, of the 11th Hussars, one of the famous Light Brigade, died a few days ago at the age of 77 years, and was buried yesterday at Richmond. After he left the famous 11th he was for some 16 years a warder at Millbank Prison, and he subsequently lived as coachman with Mr. Piggot of Richmond. In old age he entered the beautiful almshouses on the Richmond and Mortlake road, erected and endowed by Mr. William Hickey, and there he ended his days. The 11th Hussars being in India, a body of troopers and officers of the Scots Greys, now quartered at Hounslow, yesterday escorted the remains of the veteran to the pretty cemetery at Richmond, where, on the highest part of the new ground, they laid him to rest.
- ^ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Thomas Allistone". FamilySearch.
- ^ a b c d e Crider, Lawrence (2004). In Search of the Light Brigade. Eurocommunica. p. 147. ISBN 9781898763123.
- ^ 1851 Census, NFKHO107_1813_1814-0399 Ancestry
- ^ "1851 Worldwide Army Index. Thomas Allistone in 1851. The National Archives reference WO 12/1009". Find My Past.
- ^ a b c Williams, Godfrey Trevelyan (1908). The Historical Records of the Eleventh Hussars Prince Albert's Own. London: George Newnes. pp. 239, 240.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "The Officers' Dinner". Illustrated London News. Vol. 67, no. 1890. 30 October 1875. p. 6.
- ^ Brighton, Terry (2005). Hell Riders: The Truth About the Charge of the Light Brigade. Penguin (published 7 July 2005).
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ 1861 Census, Vine Row, Richmond, Richmond upon Thames, R.G. 9/460. Find My Past
- ^ 1871 Census, Cedar Terrace, Lambeth, London, R.G. 10/673. Find My Past
- ^ 1881 Census, Richmond, Surrey SRYRG11_843_845-0388, Ancestry
- ^ Richmond Register of Voters, 1886, page 304. Ancestry
- ^ "England and Wales Census, 1891, Entry for Thomas Allistone and Sarah Allistone, 1891". Family Search.
- ^ "Art Notes". The Sketch. 31 January 1894. p. 32.
- ^ "Marriages". Surrey Comet. 2 May 1903. p. 10.
- ^ Marriage Register, Hounslow Parish Church, 31280_199094-01065, Ancestry
- ^ Old Burial Ground Cemetery List (Excel Spreadsheet), Richmond Cemetery
- ^ Boys, E J. "1128, Private Thomas J. Alliston - 11th Hussars". Lives of the Light Brigade.
- ^ "Deceased name. Thomas ALLISTONE". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.