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Edward Shakespeare
of the Household Cavalry
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Edward was
born 1st February 1847 in Henley In Arden,
the son of Edward Shakespeare and Susannah, nee Slater. His grandparents
were John Shakespeare and Martha Pettyford of
Wootton Wawen.
Edward was originally a gunsmith in Birmingham - a
family anecdote...:
"Maria Thomas' father ("antique shop owner/gun
finisher") owned an antique shop in Bull St. Birmingham. One day as the
Mayor was passing a slate fell from the roof and the Mayor had the shop
condemned. He called in Edward Shakespeare to mend the roof and that's
how Edward and Maria met."
Presumably he then took up the gun trade (gun
finisher on wedd cert 1868, residence Cannon St.), later becoming an
army expert.
He married Maria Thomas at St Phillips, Birmingham, in 1868, and the couple had four children. The dates of his military service are unknown, but the Picture shows him wearing the uniform of the1st battalion Lifeguards Household Cavalry, in which he served as a Quartermaster Sgt./Armourer. |
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Edward Shakespeare Pictured when attached to 17th Lancers, wearing their uniform (skull and crossbones rank badge identifies this) |
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| The medal he is wearing is the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, on the edge of which is: 415.S.ARMR.SGT.E.SHAKESPEARE.C.OF ARMR S. |
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Edward was a member of the Royal Armourers Corps and as such was attached to other "mainstream" regiments as an expert armourer. It is known that Edward served in India from 1880 until after 1885, and the last three of his four children were born there.
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The newspaper cutting on the right details Edward
Shakespeare's promotion to 'First Class Armourer Sergeant' : the date of
this is unknown, but it may be possible to determine the date from other
information in this cutting, eg the mention of promotions of Officers who
may be traceable. The reverse of the cutting can be seen here. |
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Family anecdote says that Edward had a full military
honours funeral at Stirling Castle implying the Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders? (ie not the Lifeguards). And also implying still in
service? But it says 'retired' on death certificate, and he was
66 yrs old........: this could probably be explained by there being a "Forthside
Ordnance Depot" in Stirling at which Edward could have been working as a
civilian after retirement.
He died 12 July 1913 and is buried in Ballengeich
cemetery, section WX11, as is Maria who had died in 1905.
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Notes
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Documents relating to this family: Please note that some of these images are large in size - please be patient in waiting for them to download |
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