Crimean War 'family' photo

[zhuk]

Apologies for my first forum post if it is in the wrong section.


I have a 'family' photo an English cousin unearthed. Taken on a Crimean War battlefield, I am wondering of any of the knowledgeable people here might know something regarding the officers' uniform/Regt....I realise it might be a bit of a long shot though, the photo obviously isn't hi-res lol





A bit of narrative background, included with the pic:

"This was taken at the siege of Sebastopol, which we think was taken in 1854 when he [my great-great-grandfather] was approximately 10 years old. He is the young lad standing up.

Simeon was Russian-born, and was caught hiding in a barrel on the battlefield by a Colonel Brownrigg [officer pictured] and ultimately taken back to England."

[mpw]

It might help if you know what part of the UK your family were living at the time and then find the regiments local to them. I'm pretty sure the 28th North Gloustershire regiment were in Sepastopol between 1854 - 56. As were the 49th Royal Berkshire and I believe my own local 'The Buffs' East Kent regiments.

Mark.

[Glenn66]

Very interesting! Welcome to the forum.

[zhuk]

It might help if you know what part of the UK your family were living at the time and then find the regiments local to them. I'm pretty sure the 28th North Gloustershire regiment were in Sepastopol between 1854 - 56. As were the 49th Royal Berkshire and I believe my own local 'The Buffs' East Kent regiments.

Mark.

Hi Mark


Alas, my father's side of the family is very little known to us. The little Russian lad is from the maternal side of his family.

My father was born in Melbourne but was moved to Wilton in Wiltshire as a baby after his mother died of Cholera in 1914, to be brought up by surviving female relatives as was customary for the day. His last memory of his father was being held up on his shoulders, watching the troops come home in 1918.

All that is far post the 1850s though I'm afraid, and I have no further information (apart from that brief snippet above) about the mysterious Colonel!

Many thanks for those Regt suggestions, that is more than I ever expected

Very interesting! Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome Glenn

I'm not sure how much that is particularly valuable I can contribute, but military history/memorabilia/weapons have always held a strong interest and I'm sure there will be a lot to occupy me here.

[big ned]

Hi Zhuk,

This is a very interesting image that you've posted; and I am familiar with it, as it is a salt paper photograph taken by the official war photographer Roger Fenton in 1855 at, as you say, Sevastopol.

The two lads are Russian drummer boys captured during the siege of Sevastopol in 1854-5. They were named by the British troops Alma (on the left) and Inkerman (right) after two previous battles in the campaign.

The officer seated on the right is Lt.Col. John Studholme Brownrigg C.B., an officer of the Grenadier Guards. He was on the staff of General Sir George Brown G.C.B., officer commanding the Light Division. In the pic below Brownrigg is 2nd left.

Lt.Col. Brownrigg was born in the East Indies, the son of a soldier, in 1815. He married Katherine Williams-Wynn on the 11th of September 1840. He sailed for the Crimea on the 21st of April 1854 onboard the transport ship 'Ellen'. He was the senior army officer on board, and responsible for the sole cargo of mules and horses; this appears odd to me as the Grenadier's are a regiment of foot, but hey ho! The Guards themselves sailed out on H.M.S. Golden Fleece.

By 1866 Brownrigg is shown as retired; he reached the rank of general. He is shown in the 1881 census as 'Head of Household' in Ashford, Middlesex. That same year his wife Katherine died. He himself died in 1889 in Columbo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

I hope this helps, I would dearly like to hear more about young Simeon and what became of him in later life if you can find out more from your folks. I would reccomend you Google Roger Fenton / Crimean photographs for better resolution pictures of your pic and many others that are available for purchase if you like.

Regards, Ned.

[zhuk]

Hi Zhuk,

This is a very interesting image that you've posted; and I am familiar with it, as it is a salt paper photograph taken by the official war photographer Roger Fenton in 1855 at, as you say, Sevastopol.

The two lads are Russian drummer boys captured during the siege of Sevastopol in 1854-5. They were named by the British troops Alma (on the left) and Inkerman (right) after two previous battles in the campaign.

The officer seated on the right is Lt.Col. John Studholme Brownrigg C.B., an officer of the Grenadier Guards. He was on the staff of General Sir George Brown G.C.B., officer commanding the Light Division. In the pic below Brownrigg is 2nd left.

Lt.Col. Brownrigg was born in the East Indies, the son of a soldier, in 1815. He married Katherine Williams-Wynn on the 11th of September 1840. He sailed for the Crimea on the 21st of April 1854 onboard the transport ship 'Ellen'. He was the senior army officer on board, and responsible for the sole cargo of mules and horses; this appears odd to me as the Grenadier's are a regiment of foot, but hey ho! The Guards themselves sailed out on H.M.S. Golden Fleece.

By 1866 Brownrigg is shown as retired; he reached the rank of general. He is shown in the 1881 census as 'Head of Household' in Ashford, Middlesex. That same year his wife Katherine died. He himself died in 1889 in Columbo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

I hope this helps, I would dearly like to hear more about young Simeon and what became of him in later life if you can find out more from your folks. I would reccomend you Google Roger Fenton / Crimean photographs for better resolution pictures of your pic and many others that are available for purchase if you like.

Regards, Ned.

Ned...wow! what can I say...but I'm quite speechless with your post. Actually gobsmacked wouldn't be putting a too bold a term to it lol


Wonderful amount of background there on the Lt. Colonel I never dreamed of having. Many thanks for it I now have quite a lot to go for on further research. Thanks also for the headsup on the official photographer Fenton.

And something very interesting has arisen...you mention that 'Inkerman' was the name given to Simeon...we had known that he was named after a battle site, but because at some point that must have transmuted into 'SINCA', we could not find a record of that engagment. Several English relatives bear that name today. You have solved a mystery for me which has always puzzled the family.

Simeon Sinca settled in Wiltshire and became a house carpenter.

Another photo - circa 1908; Simeon is the senior figure in the group, on the knee of his wife Tirzah sits my father's mother Daisy. The rather shapely young woman in the back row is my father's aunt Liz who brought him up.




Simeon in 1870




It is quite a sobering thought to contemplate what may have become of him had he never left Russia.

[big ned]

That's some great info and pictures! I'm glad to have helped solve a little riddle in your family, it's made my day! A bit more info on Brownrigg; he was a sitting J.P. in 1881 and lived in a large house called Ashford Lodge which employed several servants. At the time his daughter in law and grand daughter were living there with a couple of house guests from Ireland. The Guards had been based there prior to and after the Crimean war, so perhaps that's a connection.

Here's the census list for occupants of Ashford Lodge in 1881, note he is the only male in the household.

John Studholm BROWNRIGG Head W Male 66 East Indies Genl
On The Active List Of Justices Of Peace
Mary Jemima BROWNRIGG Daur In Law M Female 34 North
Cranley, Buckingham, England
Katherine Louisa BROWNRIGG Grand Daur U Female 8 Montese
Rectory, Buckingham, England
Harriet J. CONLAIN Visitor M Female 28 Ireland
Maria GRAYDON Visitor M Female 22 Ireland
Clara M. BACK Visitor M Female 22 Hayes, Kent, England
Marie C.C. ENDERS House Keeper U Female 50 Germany
Housekeeper
Sarah Ann BENCH Cook U Female 44 Wimborne, Dorset, England
Cook
Myra BAKER Parlor Maid U Female 25 Malden, Essex, England
Parlormaid
Fanny WILKINS Housemaid U Female 20 Dadford, Buckingham,
England Housemaid
Ester M. DIBBLE Kitchen Maid U Female 22 Sunningdale,
Buckingham, England Kitchenmaid

W=Widower
M=Married
U=Unmarried

All the best, Ned.

[M14sRock]

Hey Zhuk! Welcome aboard. Long time, no see. Great picture and family history.

How have you been?

[zhuk]

That's some great info and pictures! I'm glad to have helped solve a little riddle in your family, it's made my day! A bit more info on Brownrigg; he was a sitting J.P. in 1881 and lived in a large house called Ashford Lodge which employed several servants. At the time his daughter in law and grand daughter were living there with a couple of house guests from Ireland. The Guards had been based there prior to and after the Crimean war, so perhaps that's a connection.

Here's the census list for occupants of Ashford Lodge in 1881, note he is the only male in the household.

John Studholm BROWNRIGG Head W Male 66 East Indies Genl
On The Active List Of Justices Of Peace
Mary Jemima BROWNRIGG Daur In Law M Female 34 North
Cranley, Buckingham, England
Katherine Louisa BROWNRIGG Grand Daur U Female 8 Montese
Rectory, Buckingham, England
Harriet J. CONLAIN Visitor M Female 28 Ireland
Maria GRAYDON Visitor M Female 22 Ireland
Clara M. BACK Visitor M Female 22 Hayes, Kent, England
Marie C.C. ENDERS House Keeper U Female 50 Germany
Housekeeper
Sarah Ann BENCH Cook U Female 44 Wimborne, Dorset, England
Cook
Myra BAKER Parlor Maid U Female 25 Malden, Essex, England
Parlormaid
Fanny WILKINS Housemaid U Female 20 Dadford, Buckingham,
England Housemaid
Ester M. DIBBLE Kitchen Maid U Female 22 Sunningdale,
Buckingham, England Kitchenmaid

W=Widower
M=Married
U=Unmarried

All the best, Ned.

Great stuff Ned, looks like both our days have been made!

I've located a much better resolution photo of the battlefield one thanks to your suggestion, appreciate all your assistance

Hey Zhuk! Welcome aboard. Long time, no see. Great picture and family history.

How have you been?

Hey M14! How are you going mate?


Many apologies, I deserted you guys at FTF without warning huh; long painful story. Cutting it short the last year has been spent fighting both the Govt & our own organisation as we lost our range, ie lot of political angst. Might make a prodigal return, if that wouldn't put too many noses out of joint!


Thanks for the welcome

[M14sRock]

Great stuff Ned, looks like both our days have been made!

I've located a much better resolution photo of the battlefield one thanks to your suggestion, appreciate all your assistance






Hey M14! How are you going mate?


Many apologies, I deserted you guys at FTF without warning huh; long painful story. Cutting it short the last year has been spent fighting both the Govt & our own organisation as we lost our range, ie lot of political angst. Might make a prodigal return, if that wouldn't put too many noses out of joint!


Thanks for the welcome

No sweat mate. But FTF is NOT what it was. Don't bother going back.