Robert Avis - A VETERAN OF THE CRIMEA WAR
When Robert Avis was born in 1830 in Henstridge, Somerset, his father, John, was 50 and his mother, Susannah, was 40. He married Caroline Beadle on 19 April 1858. They had six children in 10 years. He retired from the army in 1872 and moved back to Stalbridge. His wife Caroline died in September 1909 and he died in November 1909 having lived for 79 years, he was buried on the 24th November 1909 in St Marys Churchyard Stalbridge with full military honours.
“The County Chronicle Essex Herald 28 April 1908”
VETERAN’S GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr. Robert Avis served with No 8 Company of the 11th Battalion Royal Regiment Artillery, took part in the battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, and assisted in opening up the trenches in order to lay siege to Sebastopol, celebrated his golden wedding on Sunday having been married at Shoeburyness on April 19,1858. Avis has three medals, one being for distinguished conduct in the field, the carrying of a barrel of powder to the besiegers while under heavy fire, at Sebastopol. On another occasion he almost had his hand severed by a Russian sword, but after temporarily binding the injured limb resumed his labours in the field.
Battle of The Alma: The first battle of the Crimean War, fought on 20th September 1854.
Battle of Balaclava: The battle of the Crimean War on 25th October 1854, that saw the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Charge of the Heavy Brigade and the Thin Red Line.
Battle of Inkerman: The ‘Soldier’s Battle’, fought in the Crimean fog on 5th November 1854.
Siege of Sevastopol: The trench fighting outside Sevastopol in 1854 and 1855 during the Crimean War, that proved a foretaste of the terrible warfare of the American Civil War and the First World War.
“London Evening Standard 26 Nov 1909”
DORSET VETERAN OF THE CRIMEA.
Another of the now few remaining veterans of the Crimea has passed away in the person of Robert Avis, of Stalbridge, who was 79 years of age. He enlisted in the Horse Artillery on October 9, 1848, and fought six years later in the battles of Inkerman, the Alma, and Sevastopol, winning three medals, one of which was for distinguished service. He also served in the School of Gunnery under Sir William Armstrong, and was discharged at his own request on August 3, 1872, after completing his full term of service. He was buried with full military honours, a detachment of Horse Artillery from Christchurch attending the obsequies.
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The London Gazette 1854
VICTORIA R.
Whereas by Our Royal Warrant of the 4th June, 1853, We were pleased to extend the rewards to Serjeants of Our Array for distinguished service from £2,000 a year .to £4,000 a year, by an annual progression at the rate of £250 a year, or such other rate as might be deemed most expedient by Our Secretary at War; and whereas We deem it expedient to mark Oar sense of the distinguished, gallant, and good conduct of the Army serving in the East, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, Our will and pleasure is, that one Serjeant in each regiment of cavalry and infantry, and of each battalion of the Foot Guards, and of the Rifle Brigade serving" in the East, in the Crimea, or elsewhere, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, shall be selected by the commanding officer and recommended to Us for the grant of an annuity not exceeding £20, provided that the aggregate of grants now made, and to be made, shall not exceed £4,000 in any one year.
The annuity so granted is to be at the disposal of such serjeant, although he may be still in Our service.
It is also Our will and pleasure to extend the provisions of Our Royal Warrant of the 13th April, 1854, and with the special view of marking Our sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of Our Army now serving in the East, in the Crimea, or elsewhere, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, to order and direct that the commanding officer of each regiment of cavalry shall be allowed to recommend one serjeant, two corporals, and four privates, and the commanding officer of each regiment of infantry, and of each battalion of Foot Guards, and of the Rifle Brigade, shall be allowed to recommend one serjeant, four corporals, and ten privates, to receive a medal and a gratuity of
For a serjeant £15
For a corporal £10
For a private. £ 5
The gratuity to be placed in the Regimental Savings' Bank, there to remain in deposit at interest until his discharge from Our service, and to be deemed to be his personal property, in conformity with the terms of Our Royal Warrant of 13th April, 1854.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, this fourth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's command.
SIDNEY HERBERT.
VICTORIA R.
Whereas by Our Royal Warrant of the 4th June, 1853, We were pleased to extend the rewards to Serjeants of Our Array for distinguished service from £2,000 a year .to £4,000 a year, by an annual progression at the rate of £250 a year, or such other rate as might be deemed most expedient by Our Secretary at War; and whereas We deem it expedient to mark Oar sense of the distinguished, gallant, and good conduct of the Army serving in the East, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, Our will and pleasure is, that one Serjeant in each regiment of cavalry and infantry, and of each battalion of the Foot Guards, and of the Rifle Brigade serving" in the East, in the Crimea, or elsewhere, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, shall be selected by the commanding officer and recommended to Us for the grant of an annuity not exceeding £20, provided that the aggregate of grants now made, and to be made, shall not exceed £4,000 in any one year.
The annuity so granted is to be at the disposal of such serjeant, although he may be still in Our service.
It is also Our will and pleasure to extend the provisions of Our Royal Warrant of the 13th April, 1854, and with the special view of marking Our sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of Our Army now serving in the East, in the Crimea, or elsewhere, under the command of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, to order and direct that the commanding officer of each regiment of cavalry shall be allowed to recommend one serjeant, two corporals, and four privates, and the commanding officer of each regiment of infantry, and of each battalion of Foot Guards, and of the Rifle Brigade, shall be allowed to recommend one serjeant, four corporals, and ten privates, to receive a medal and a gratuity of
For a serjeant £15
For a corporal £10
For a private. £ 5
The gratuity to be placed in the Regimental Savings' Bank, there to remain in deposit at interest until his discharge from Our service, and to be deemed to be his personal property, in conformity with the terms of Our Royal Warrant of 13th April, 1854.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, this fourth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's command.
SIDNEY HERBERT.
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Distinguished Service Medal and the Crimea medal with Bars Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann and Sebastopol
Ian Semple 29th November 2019
