Private 2638 Robert Humpston 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. (Now The Royal Green Jackets)
Born 1832, baptised 29 December 1833at St Wereburgh Derby Derbyshire to Samuel and Mary Humpstone. 1841 residing with his parents and siblings at Cross Lane, St Werburgh, Derbyshire. 1851-1861 with his parents and siblings at Court No1, Macklin Street, St Werburgh, occupation, house servant out of doors. 1861, occupation, labourer. 1871 aged 37 residing with his wife Jeanette, nee Clarke and son, Arthur at next door to his parents at Court No2, occupation, railway labourer. 1881 residing with Mary ? at 5 Shaw Street, Derby, occupation, general labourer.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross on the 22 April 1855 along with Private 3471 Private Joseph Bradshaw at Sebastopol during the Crimean War 1855
Died at home, 45 Dunscombe Street, Derby 22 December 1884 aged 45 and was laid to rest on the 26 in an unmarked pauper’s grave in Nottingham General Cemetery, Nottingham.
The following extract has been down loaded for free from the National Archives
Regiment 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. (Rank and name) No 2638 Private Robert Humpston.
Act of Bravery for which recommended.
Citation
A Russian Rifle Pit, situated among the rocks overhanging the Woronzoff Road, between the 3rd parallel, Right Attack, and the Quarries (at that period in the possession of the enemy), was occupied every night by the Russians, and their Riflemen commanded a portion of the Left Attack, and impeded the work in a new battery then being erected on the extreme right front of the 2nd parallel, Left Attack. It was carried in daylight on the 22nd of April 1855, by two riflemen, one of whom was Private Humpston; he received a gratuity of 51., and was promoted. The Rifle Pit was subsequently destroyed on further support being obtained. (Private Bradshaw received the French War Medal.)
LG dated 24 February 1857
London Gazette dated 7 May 1855 Issue21708 Page1780
War-Department, May 7, 1855.
LORD PANMURE has this day received a Despatch and its Enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to His Lordship by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B. Before Sevastopol, April 24, 1855
Enclosure 4
Nominal Return of Non-Commissioned Officer*
and Privates WOUNDED from the 20th to 22nd
April, 1855, inclusive. 2ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE.
2783 Lance-Corporal Joseph Rowe, slightly
3328 Private William Perkins, slightly
3688 Robert Humpston, slightly Note different army number.
4160 Henry Arnitt, severely
3675 Thomas Flynn, severely
J, B. BUCKNALL ESTCOURT, Adjutant-General.
Medals
Crimean War 1854-1855
Private 3688. with 2nd Rifle Brigade. India 1857-1858 (Indian Munity)
Private Robert Humpston VC - The Rifle Brigade
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