About the product

Indian Mutiny 16 Year old Bugler

Indian Mutiny, bar Lucknow, Bugler Wm Taylor, 2nd Rifle Bde, joined up aged 14, underage 16 year old Bugler during the Lucknow Campaign. Later Band Sergeant Northampton Volunteers.

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SKU: J7683 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Very Fine

Description

Indian Mutiny Medal, bar Lucknow, Bugler William Taylor, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, joined up aged 14, 16 year old Bugler during the Lucknow Campaign. Underage throughout the Indian Mutiny.

 

Officially impressed: “Bugler Wm Taylor 2nd Bn Rifle Bde”

 

Slight damage to front of suspension claw, some polishing and general wear, Musician service being typically tough on medals. After being invalided out of the army in 1865 he was then Band Sergeant of the Northampton Regiment Volunteers for 30 years, so likely wore the medal proudly on many occasions.

 

Obituary in the Northampton Mercury, 27th September 1895:

 

“OBITUARY – Band Sergeant Wm Taylor, 1st Volunteer Battalion Northampton Regiment, for whom a concert was given, by the combined bands of the Battalions and Regiment, at Franklin’s Gardens, on the 15th, died at 78, Great Russell Street, from Cardiac Disease and Syncope, on Monday night, aged 54.

 

The deceased was an Army Pensioner, was an old member of Court British Banner, Ancient Order of Foresters and a Rough-Stuff Man by occupation.”

 

Bugler William Taylor of the 2nd Battalion Princess Christian’s Own Rifle Brigade.

 

Born into the Army on 26th August 1841, the son of serving soldier Sergeant William Taylor and his wife Mary, of the 50th Regiment of Foot.
He was born at Fort William, in Calcutta, India, being baptised by the Garrison Chaplain Rev Fisher at St Peters Church on 3rd October 1841.

 

Following in his father’s footsteps, shortly after his 14th Birthday, he enlisted with the Rifle Brigade at Westminster, London on 10th September 1855 with number 5134.

 

Service
Private (Underage), 10th September 1855 – 7th September 1856
Attained 15 Years of Age, 8th September 1856 – 18th March 1857, Underage
Appointed Bugler, 19th March 1857 – 9th September 1859, Underage,
Attained 18 Years of Age, Bugler, 10th September 1859 – 8th May 1860
Reverted to Private, 9th May 1860 – 30th November 1864

 

Officially discharged from service on 20th June 1865, having seen significant service but aged only 23, he was found to be unfit for further service attributed to his 7 years in India.

 

As he was mostly underage for his service, by the time of his discharge he had somehow only earned 5 years 83 days of service, with 7 years 10 months in India.

 

His conduct was said to be “Very Good, is in possession of 1 Good Conduct Badge, the India Mutiny Medal and Clasp for Lucknow.”

 

“Name appears once in the Regimental Defaulters Book, Has never been tried by Court Martial.”

 

“The disease developed itself since his service while in this country (India)” “A Weakly young man suffering from glandula enlargment in the neck and at times attended with …. attributed to constitutional causes..”

 

He was found unfit at Meerut and sent home, being discharged from Netley Hospital in June 1865.

 

Intending to go live at No 3 Oxford Street, Northampton.

 

It seems he met his wife who was from Northamptonshire, so having no permanent home after his years in the army chose to settle there.

 

Shown on the 1871 Census as living at Asplins Yard, Milton, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire.

 

Shown as a 29 year old born in the East Indies, with his wife Elizabeth Taylor (Born 1847) and 2 Children, William (Born 1869) and Mary J (Born 1871) all from Northamptonshire.

 

Shown on the 1881 Census where he was working as a Shoe Fitter in the town of Northampton.

 

By 1891 he was still living in Great Russell Street, Northampton, then a Shoemaker.

 

In the local retrospect of 1895, Northampton Mercury, 27th December 1895:

 

23rd September 1895 – Band Sergeant William Taylor, 1st V.B.N.R. Volunteer Battalion Northampton Regiment, died, aged 54.”