British Foreign Policy 1815-65

I am happy that you are using this web site and hope that you found it useful. Unfortunately, the cost of making this material freely available is increasing, so if you have found the site useful and would like to contribute towards its continuation, I would greatly appreciate it. Click the button to go to Paypal and make a donation.

Diary of Services in the Crimea by Charles W Usherwood and while serving with the 1st Battalion 19th Regiment of Foot

Forward

This material graciously had been shared with the Victorian Web by the Green Howards. Thanks are due to the Green Howards Regimental Museum, Richmond, North Yorkshire and to Mr. Kenneth Usherwood, the living relative of Charles Usherwood. This document has been taken from its primary location on The Victorian Web

This Journal relates to the period of Army service (1852 to 1856) of Charles William Usherwood, born 1831, the fourth of ten children of a glass maker in Worsbrodale, Rotherham, Yorkshire.   His parents died in 1848 and 1850, by which time he seems to have become a grocer's assistant, but at the age of 20 enlisted as a private soldier in the 19th Foot (in which his two brothers later joined him). The Journal here is the first half of Charles Usherwood's Service Journal. The second half describes his life in the Army between 1856 and 1864, including service in India.

No information is available as to Charles Usherwood's education, but it must have been good for his time and background.   The Journal shows that he rose by successive stages in the service, to reach the rank of Lieutenant and Quartermaster by his retirement at the age of 33.   In the previous year (having by then transferred to the 8th Foot) he married the daughter of his late adjutant, and on leaving the army, entered the prison service as a clerk at Salisbury; he later became Chief Warder at Horsemonger Lane in Southwark, and then went to Usk in South Wales as Deputy Governor; succeeding as Governor in 1879, he died at the end of 1880, aged 49.   He left 6 children, and his widow survived until 1932.   There are several references in the Journals both to Thomas Thompson, the adjutant, and his daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie). It would seem that it was during his service at Salisbury that he wrote the manuscript of the Journals, but it is clear that he must have kept extensive notes during his Army service.

1. Joining the Regiment
2. Despatched to the Crimea
3. Forces establish themselves
4. Cholera and hard times in camp
5. The Battle of the Alma
6. The siege of Sebastopol starts
7. The Battle of Inkerman and a hard winter
8. Sebastopol falls to the Allies
9. Winter and then peace
10. The return home

Usherwood in India