Edwin Hughes (soldier)

Troop Sergeant Major Edwin Hughes, known as 'Balaclava Ned', was the last survivor of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of 1854–56. He was born in Wrexham, Wales on 12 December 1830, and died in Blackpool on 18 May 1927, aged 96. He is buried in Layton Cemetery.

Early life
Hughes was one of nine children born to William (a tin-plate worker) and Mary (née Jones) Hughes. He was baptised at St. Giles Church in Wrexham on 5 January 1831. Hughes became a shoemaker until he joined the 13th Light Dragoons, part of the Light Brigade, at Liverpool on 1 November 1852. He joined his regiment at Hounslow as 1506 Private Hughes, and in 1854 he sailed with them from Portsmouth to the Crimea.

The Crimean War
On 25 October 1854 Hughes rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava, where his horse was killed under him, trapping his leg. Of the Charge, he later said, "'I was on duty that day from four o'clock in the morning until after the charge in the afternoon. We rode out at the command straight for the Russian lines. Before we reached them, my horse was shot, and in falling on its side I got partially pinned underneath injuring my leg. I was assisted away.'" Returning to British lines after the Charge, Hughes was put in charge of the Russian prisoners. He was also present at the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854 and throughout the siege and eventual capture of Sebastopol. At the end of the War he was awarded the British Crimea Medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Crimea Medal.

Later career
In 1858 Hughes was promoted to Corporal, in 1863 to Sergeant, and in 1871 to Troop Sergeant Major. On 24 November 1873 he was discharged from the Army at Colchester Garrison at his own request having completed 21 years and 24 days service. He was presented with a marble clock by the Non-commissioned officers of the 13th Hussars, as the 13th Light Dragoons had become. He was also awarded the medal for long service and good conduct. His discharge papers describe him as being 42 11/12ths years of age, 5 feet nine inches tall, of fresh complexion with sandy hair and hazel eyes.

The day after leaving the Army Hughes enlisted in the Worcestershire Yeomanry (a mounted volunteer unit), staying as Sergeant-Instructor until 5 January 1886. He was discharged on account of 'old age' (he was in fact aged fifty-five years). At this time Hughes was living in Birmingham.

Later life
Hughes married a woman called Hannah, who died in 1899; they had two sons and two daughters together. One of his daughters never married, and in 1910 he went to live with her in Blackpool. Hughes was a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, and attended the reunions for survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1895, 1910, 1912 and 1913. He received a pension from the T.H.Roberts Fund, which had been set up for Chargers who had fallen on hard times, and was also granted a pension from the Royal Patriotic Fund. By 1923 he was the only survivor of the Charge still alive, and in 1925 the various relief funds ran out. The War Office made a special grant to him, which he continued to receive until his death on 18 May 1927.

Hughes was buried with full military honours in Layton Cemetery in Blackpool. A memorial plaque was unveiled in tribute to his memory on his former home in Mount Street, Wrexham in October 1993.

His three medals were sold at auction in 2005, realising £16,000.