14th Kings
Regiment of Light Dragoons
~ Now known as the 14/20 Hussars
~
.....Visit.....
14/20
Kings Hussars Web Page
Presented/Designed and Maintained by....Rob
Bracewell
In 1845, at the age of 19 years 10
months, Edward Richard Sharman enlisted in the
14th Kings Regiment of Light
Dragoons (later known as the 14th Kings
Hussars) in London, England.
He served over 17 years with this regiment,
10 of these years in India (which was known as the
British East Indies in the 1850’s) where his
wife accompanied him and where two of his children
were born, Albert George and Edward James.
He received a medical discharge in 1863.
In 1857, the strength of the
Fourteenth proceeding to Persia was 25 officers, 614 men and 649 horses.
In
June it was increased from 9 to 10
troops consisting of 59 Sergeants, 40 Corporals, 14 Trumpeters,
626 privates, 10 Farriers and 703 Troop-horses. The
year of 1858 proved a very memorable year in the
history of the Fourteenth,
owing to a succession of most
brilliant services performed by them in Central India,
Gwalior, Bundelcund, and
the North-west Provinces, during the
suppression of the Indian Mutiny.
"The Fighting Fourteenth", a sobriquet gained
nearly fifty years earlier in the Peninsular
campaign,
was most amply justified in this
campaign by the successors of the men who gained it ; and these by their
gallantry
and valor, displayed in many an action,
siege, and pursuit in which they took part, during these
operations conducted
against the rebels, have added to the
long list of honourable distinctions already
earned by the regiment yet another
name--that of "central India". During
the whole year of 1858,
and for several months of 1859 the Fourteenth were
continuously in the field, either in
brigade or movable
column, hunting up the rebels, and most of these under the
command of two able leaders,
Major-General
Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B. and Major General Sir
Robert C. Napier, K.C.B.
Sergeant Sharman went
with the regiment to India in 1849, and served in the Persian expedition in
1857.
He went through the whole of the campaign, carried on
in central India, under Sir Hugh Rose,
and in which he was present at the
capture of Dhar, and actions at
Mundesore, 1857, capture of Chandarrie,
battle of Behoa, siege and capture of
Jhausi, action of Coouch, battle of
Gollowlie, advance on and capture
of Calpee and pursuit of rebels, capture of
Morar Cantonments, and recapture of town
and fortress of Gawalior 1858.
Sgt. Sharman was awarded a Medal and
Clasp for his distinguished service in the Light Dragoons.
The medal is a
“Campaign Medal” for Central India, awarded
for fighting in the rebel uprising during 1857-1858.
All the battle campaigns
he fought in are listed in his
military records and obituary notice.
Detailed Statement of the Services of Sergeant Edward Richard Sharman
Regiment Promotions Rank From To Years Days
14th Lt. Dragoons Private 13th Nov. 1845 31st Jan. 1847 1 80
To Corporal 1st Feb. 1847 21st Dec. 1848 1 325
To
Sergeant 22nd Dec. 1848 27th May. 1863 14
157
The "Light Dragoons" is a Cavalry Regiment...lightly armed and fast moving...................
Much thanks goes to Douglas Hill,
Esq. Regimental Historian of the 14th / 20th Royal Hussars Museum, Hampshire,
England who has done much of this research
for me.
"Indian Mutiny" Medal with "Central India" Clasp
Awarded to Sergeant Edward Richard Sharman
Central India Campaign
1857 ~ 1858
Inscriptions... on
front...”CENTRAL INDIA” on clasp.
on back...”INDIA”
“VICTORIA REGINA” on Medal
1857 ~ 1858
Inscription on edge of
Medal...SERJt E.R. SHARMAN 14th LGt DRGns.
View of medal with new ribbon
A complete
list of "Indian Mutiny" medal recipients can be seen at
MEDALS
............................................................................................................................
The certificate below was
received from Douglas Hill, Esq. Regimental Historian
of the 14th / 20th Royal Hussars Museum, Hampshire, England
Click to enlarge
.....................................................................................................................................
The following poem was
written for the gathering of survivors
of the Indian Mutiny, at
Albert Hall, in 1907
The Veterans
by
Rudyard Kipling
Today, across our
father's graves,
The astonished years
reveal
The remnants of that
desperate host
Which cleansed our East
with steel.
Hail and farewell !
We greet you here,
With tears that none will
scorn - -
O Keepers of the House of
old,
Or ever we were born !
One service more we
dare to ask - -
Pray for us, heroes, pray,
That when Fate lays on us
our task
We do not shame the day.
...........................................................................................................................................
*
1715 James Dormer's Regiment of Dragoons
also known until 1751 by
the names of other colonels
*1751
14th Regiment of Dragoons
*1776
14th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons
*1798
14th (The Duchess of York's Own) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons
*1830
14th (The King's) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons
*1861
14th (The King's) Hussars
14th (King's) Hussars
*1921
14th King's Hussars
*
1922 amalgamated with 20th Hussars, to form 14th/20th Hussars
The regiment was
originally formed in 1715, and was known as Dormers Dragoons. In 1751
they were
officially called the 14th Dragoons, and in 1776 converted to the 14th Light
Dragoons.
In 1830, following a review by King William IV, they were given the honour of being re-named
14th (King’s) Light Dragoons.
Following the Crimea War,
changes were made in cavalry dress, as they had been in infantry.
The loose
tunic replaced the coatee, and "booted" overalls were worn by all mounted
troops.
(With the exception of the Household Cavalry, who retained their tall
jack boots).
Light Dragoons wore the new Albert second pattern shako with a
horse-hair plume, and five
lines of frogging across the front of the tunic.
(Hussars had six lines). After 1849 all cavalry
wore two yellow stripes on their
overalls. When Light Dragoons converted to Hussars in 1861,
this regiment became
14th (King’s) Hussars.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Index ....
Guest Book ....
Introduction ....Additional
Sharman Pages ....
Surname Gedcom Tree |
