TOPIC:

azyeoman
Good to see another Warren Hasting man!
Regards
IL.

John (azyeoman)

5629 William Richard Huff (could not resist a name like that). Following his near miss in 1897 he lived a full & long life passing away aged 73 – his death was registered in Hackney, London in the 3rd quarter of 1941. That meant he made it on to the September 1939 Register which gives his exact date of birth as 4th November 1869. He was baptised on 2nd January in Holy Trinity Church, Paddington, London and his father’s occupation is given as “Coachman”. He married Mary Christina Roberts on 19th September 1907 in St James Church, West Hampstead, London and gave his occupation as “Post Office Official”. Can’t find them on the 1911 Census but in June 1921 they were living in Bethnal Green, London and William gave his occupation as “Porter, London Postal Service”. No children listed. In 1939 he gave his occupation as “Retired, General Post Office”.

Have had a quick look at your other Warren Hastings survivor – Walter Henry Dennis – he appears to have been a little disingenuous when he attested making himself 2 years older than he was and giving the wrong birthplace – he appears to have been born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire where his sister was living when he attested. He also made the 1939 Register, just turned 65, which shows he was married, had at least one child and spent his post ABW life working on the railways in London. Need to do some more checking but 95% certain the above is correct.

On board the William Hastings William & Walter would have had for company two Smethwick born men – 5581 Robert Downes & 8499 Joseph Clements.

Will email you all the supporting paperwork this evening if the local internet is not destroyed by the current thunderstorm which means it will be another week as I am away from home for a week from tomorrow.

Regards, David.

Thank you very much David,
Your research skills are second to none and you're always a wealth of information, which is very very much appreciated! I'm always happy to get the truth on the recipients and have the documents. : )
Cheers and thanks again,
John

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1854 (2) Hazara 1891, Samana 1891 (5329 Pte. H. Fulcher 1st. Bn. K.R. Rif.C.);
IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (5329. Pte. H. Fulcher 1st. Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps.);
QSA (6) Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (5329 Pte. H. Fulcher, K.R.R.C.);
KSA (2) (5329 Pte. H. Fulcher. K.R.R.C.)

Henry Fulcher was born in Marylebone, London, around 1870, and attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester on 20 July 1889. A sawyer by trade, he served in India from 25 November 1890 to 31 January 1897; departing Aldershot with the 1st Battalion in HMS Crocodile, Fulcher served in operations against the Bunerwal tribe in the spring of 1891, joining his Regiment on the long march from Rawalpindi to Durband as part of the Hazara Field Force. Placed under the Command of Brigadier-General Sir William Lockhart, the 1st King’s Royal Rifle Corps then joined No. 1 Column from their base at Hangu and participated in the Miranzai Expedition of 1891. Here they participated in the storming and capture of the fortified villages of Tsalai and Sangar, followed by five more small settlements; moving from village to village, the riflemen and Gurkhas killed over 300 tribesmen, set fire to the defensive stockades and spoiled any crops.

Attached to the Isazai Expedition of September 1892 and part of the Chitral Relief Force in 1895, the Battalion later highly distinguished itself at the storming of the Malakand Pass on 3 April 1895 against 12,000 local tribesmen. This was repeated in the action at Khar the following day. Returned home to England and placed in Army Reserve, Fulcher was recalled to the Colours in November 1899 and served in South Africa from 13 December 1899; posted to the 1st Battalion from 1 March 1900, he took part in the Relief of Ladysmith and was present at the Battle of Bergandal from 21 to 27 August 1900 which breached the Boer lines of defence and facilitated Buller’s march on Machadodorp. Witnessing the next phase of guerilla warfare, Fulcher finally departed for England on 15 July 1902 upon the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging, being discharged a short while later.