Description
Indian Mutiny 1857-8, no bar, Ashantee 1873-4, bar Coomassie, 876 Quartermaster Sergeant William Dyer, 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade, former Private in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Sergeant Major William Dyer, 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade, was a distinguished long service NCO of the regiment, he first joined up underage back in 1857, seeing his baptism of fire in the Indian Mutiny having recently turned 18 with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
In 1859 he transferred to the Rifle Brigade and never left, swiftly rising through the ranks, by the end of his 22 year career in the Army, he had reached the rank of Sergeant Major, the highest NCO rank possible by 1879, he would finally earn the coveted Meritorious Service Medal to top of his career with an Annuity of £15.
After his discharge he remained in the employment of the War Office as one of the Queen’s Messengers.
Mutiny officially impressed: “Willm Dyer 23rd Regt”
Ashantee officially engraved: “876 Qr Mr Serjt W. Dyer. 2 Bn Rifle Bde 1873-4”.
Both medals confirmed on the roll.
The Indian Mutiny Roll expands on his services stating he had served at the 3 battles of “Saleempore, Jowbroulie and Peraiwah”.
During the Ashantee War, Quartermaster Sergeant Dyer was the second highest ranking non-commissioned officer in the Regiment to receive the medal, under Sergt Major E. Stretch.
He later received the the Meritorious Service Medal, likely trading in his LSGC medal as commonly seen, this MSM was sadly split from the group and sold by Emedals.com recently so a reunite should be possible.
William Dyer, was born circa 1840 in “Shuddelly” in Winchcomb, Gloucester, which appears to be a misspelling of “Sudeley” which is in the Cotswolds near the town of Winchcombe, home to Sudeley Castle.
At the age of 17 years and 10 months old he signed on for service at Oxford with the 23rd Foot.
Serving underage from 9th September 1857 – 8th November 1857, not counting towards his service.
He became of age on 9th November 1857, serving through the Indian Mutiny until 30th April 1859.
From 1st May 1859 he was transferred over to the 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade.
Promotions:
Corporal, 17th Nov 1863 – 31st July 1865
Sergeant, 1st August 1865 – 30th Sept 1866
Colour Sergeant, 1st Oct 1866 – 10th June 1867
Quartermaster Sergeant, 17th January 1872 – 16th April 1877
Sergeant Major, 17th April 1877 – 11th September 1879.
By his discharge he had seen 21 Years and 307 days of service, of which 14 years and 34 days were spent posted overseas, consisting of:
“East India, 9 Years 8 Months
West Coast of Africa, 4 Months
Gibraltar, 4 Years 10 Months, with an additional 8 days.”
“His conduct has been Very Good and if he were not a Sergeant Major would be in possession of 5 good conduct badges.
He is in possession of the Indian Mutiny Medal, the Ashantee Medal + Clasp for Coomassie + The Good Conduct Medal and Gratuity”.
“His name does not appear in the Regimental Defaulters Book, he has never been tried by Court Martial.”
1891 Census records his profession as “Civil Service, Queen’s Messenger, War Office”.
After his retirement to Pension, he worked as a Messenger for the War Office on a £15 Annuity, as mentioned in the 1895 Issue of the Rifle Brigade Chronicle who keep a list of “Distinguished Riflemen” who are still living.
The photograph of him wearing these 2 medals alongside his LSGC, which was recently received and had since been likely traded in for the Annuity MSM was published in the 1896 Rifle Brigade Chronicle.
The 1896 Chronicle notes: “The Group of NCOs of the 2nd Battalion was taken at the South Barracks, Gibraltar, in 1877, in which year they all received the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct.
Sons of the both the late Sergt Major Longden and Qrmr Sergeant Dyer (At present an Office-keeper at the War Office) are now serving in the 2nd Battalion was non-commissioned officers.”
The 1897 edition notes him as “Officer Keeper, War Office, late Queen’s Messenger. (Annuity £15).”
