Richard Charles?>
- Name
- Richard /Charles/
- Surname
- Charles
- Given names
- Richard
Occupation
|
INDI:OCCU:CORP: 5th Dragoon Guards |
---|---|
Birth of a daughter
|
|
Birth of a son
|
|
Baptism of a son
|
Note: Baptised at same time as Samuel Charles according to Register of Woods Chapel district. Whether a twin or just baptised simultaneously not clear from Register |
Birth of a grandson
|
|
Birth of a grandson
|
|
Birth of a grandson
|
|
Birth of a granddaughter
|
|
Birth of a grandson
|
|
Marriage of a son
|
|
Birth of a grandson
|
|
Birth of a granddaughter
|
|
Death of a wife
|
|
Marriage of a grandson
|
|
Marriage of a son
|
|
Marriage of a grandson
|
|
Marriage of a grandson
|
|
Marriage of a grandson
|
|
Death of a daughter
|
|
Birth of a son
|
|
Death
|
yes
|
himself | |
---|---|
partner | |
daughter | |
9 years
son |
|
son | |
son |
Occupation |
---|
Note
|
COMMENTARY - Paul King, updated March 2007: David Cullinane's account in "The Marks Connection" (source Leslie Fox?) notes that Richard & wife Margaret brought up Grandchild William Marks (b 1824). William was considered too weak to travel to Australia with his parents as a child. At age 19 and upon the death of Richard & wife Margaret William travelled to Sydney in the company of his uncle Samuel Charles, arriving on the Glen Tanner on 23 Aug 1843, and from there he rejoined his parents in Kaima. The Marks Connection also describes Richard Charles as a war veteran - a sergeant-major of the 15th Enniskillin Dragoons who saw action at both the Peninsular War (1808-1814) and at Waterloo (1815) The Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Samual Charles (Richard's son) concurs with the rank and battle honours though says Richard was actually enlisted with the "5th Dragoons" regiment. According to the researcher engaged by me (Bob Ohara of searcher-na.co.uk), the military records show that Richard was almost certainly NOT a Waterloo or Peninsular veteran. There were records found for only one enlisted soldier of that name who served during the Napoleonic wars, and while this Richard Charles served in what was then known as the 5th Dragoon Guards, throughout both wars he was engaged primarily on recruiting duties in various locations in Ireland & England. Furthermore, while he had previously risen to the rank of sergeant, by the time of the Peninsular War this had been reduced to private. (Bob O'Hara indicates this was a not uncommon response to drunkenness or insubordination) From my own researches to date it seems some of the 5th Dragoon Guards (heavy cavalry) did fight in the Peninsular War, but not at Waterloo. Much, much later(1922) the regiment merged with the 6th Inniskillin(g) Dragoons (light cavalry) who had fought atWaterloo, but not in the peninsular. The merged regiment, then renamed the "5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards" (now just the "Royal Dragoon Guards"), could thus technically claim battle honours at both - but not until 1922! It appears there simply was no such regiment as the "15th Enniskillin Dragoons" as described in the Marks Connection Document - Perhaps at some point a "1" was mistakenly added before the "5th" to give "15th" ? The 15th Light Dragoons (or later the 15th Kings Hussars) however were definitely present at both campaigns, but with no connection to the place/word Enniskillin or Inniskillin or Inniskilling or Ireland that I can find. It was apparently not unheard of for enlisted men to move between regiments, often as they were promoted, or as trusted senior NCO's who followed their commissioned officers between regiments as they were transferred or promoted (advice from Colin Sibun, Director , Army Museums Ogilby Trust, UK dir@amot.demon.co.uk). It is thus conceivable Richard could have seen action at both arenas by transferring between regiments this way, but no military records were found that support this idea. One must wonder if the illustrious career of Richard Charles has been slightly inflated, either by himself, or perhaps by a socially ambitious descendant... (possibly after 1922 given the use of "Inniskillin" in regiment name, and the claim of battle honours at both locations)? HISTORICAL NOTE At the battle of Vittoria in the Peninsular, Gen Sir William Ponsonby commanded the 3rd British Brigade, which included 5th Dragoon Guards. At Waterloo, he commanded the 2nd Union Brigade, which happened to include the 6th Inniskillin(g) Dragoons, who took part in the infamous Union Brigade charge. After a British artillery barrage on enemy lines at Waterloo, the Union Brigade charged across the valley up to the French gun line on the far ridge, inflicting significant casualties on the French. Problems arose however when the British regimentsdid not respond to recall orders - due to the inherent difficulty in pulling up cavalry committed to an attack. The Brigade became overextended, some units even charging up & down enemy lines attacking the retreating French foot soldiers randomly, and were in turn overwhelmed by a French cavalry counter attack. General Ponsonby himself was killed. It is of note that of the three regiments in the Union Brigade, two: the Greys and Inniskillings, had not served in the Peninsula and lacked battle experience. (http://www.britishbattles.com/waterloo/waterloo-army-positions.htm) It is further reported that General Ponsonby's borrowed hack horse and many others in the two heavy cavalry regiments involved became blown during the extended attack - particularly exposing them to the counter attack. However the lighter Inniskilling' cavalry was able to courageously cover the retreat of much of the heavy cavalry Following this the Inniskilling's were apparently so praised by the Duke of Wellington that a statue of an Inniskilling Dragoon was erected on the Wellington Memorial in Hyde Park, London. It is widely believed that the Auckland suburb Ponsonby was later to be so named in the ill fated General's honour, just as the City Wellington was later named after the "Iron" Duke. TRADITIONAL SONG - "Enniskillen Dragoons", date & author unknown. Lyrics found on Polish website! This tune appears to be a variant of "Skillet dubh". Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; pg. 41. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 547, pg. 139. Our troop was made ready at the dawn of the day Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while Oh Spain it is a gallant land where wine and ale flow free Well we fought for Ireland's glory there and many a man did fall Well now the fighting's over and for home we have set sail, |
---|---|
Note
|
Email from British National Archives researcher Bob Ohara of searcher-na.co.uk, to Paul King (10/11/06): Dear Paul I have completed my search for the records of Richard Charles, who was thought to have served with the 6th Enniskillen Dragoons at the Battle of Waterloo. I began by searching the Waterloo Medal Roll. Richard did not serve at Waterloo with the 6th Enniskillen Dragoons or the 15th Hussars. The 5th Dragoons were not present. I then searched the muster rolls of the 6th Dragoons, WO 12/12547, Depot 1803-1809, and WO 12/715, 1809-1813, but Richard was not present. I searched the musters of the 15th Dragoons, WO 12/1201, 1808-1811, but he was not present here either. I also searched the musters of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and am pleased to say that he was present in these musters. I have reconstructed his career below. WO 12/294 1793-1798 On Passage from Cork to ? and then Ireland WO 12/295 1798-1799 Dublin and Gloucester WO 12/296 1800 Gloucester, Bristol and Romford WO 12/300 1804 Newcastle and Piershill Barracks WO 12/303 1807-1808 Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Cork, Dorchester, Guildford and Colchester WO 12/304 1809-1811 Colchester, Norwich, Colchester, Chichester WO 12/305 1812-1813 Canterbury WO 12/306 1814-1816 Newcastle, Dublin WO 12/307 1817-1819 Hamilton Barracks Richard did serve for long enough to have been entitled to a pension, but there are no discharge papers in place for him in WO 97 or WO 121, which would imply that he accepted a gratuity rather than a pension. I searched the relevant pension records which cover his period of discharge, held in WO 120/20 and WO 116/24, just to confirm that he did not receive a pension, and he was indeed not listed in either of these collections. I also searched the Regimental Returns of Births, but there were no relevant listings. These Returns are not complete, however, particularly this early. |
Media object
|
RichardCharles/RichardCharlesMilitaryHistoryRecordSearch.pdf |
---|---|
Media object
|
5th Dragoons Guards |
Media object
|
6th Iniskilling Regiment at Waterloo |
Media object
|
British Casualties |
Media object
|
Charge of the Union Brigade, Waterloo |
Media object
|
Eninskillen, Ireland,1800's |