On This Day, 13 January 1917

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Saturday 13 January 1917

BALACLAVA MEMORIES

DEATH OF THE LAST BIRMINGHAM SURVIVOR

Sergeant-Major J. S. Parkinson, one of the noble 600 who in the far-off days of the Crimean War rode into the jaws of death at Balaclava, died yesterday at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr G. D. Dauncey, 125 Sandon-road, Edgbaston.

Tall, straight, and picturesque, the grand old man was a familiar figure in Birmingham for many years, but latterly on account of impaired health, he had lived in retirement. His passing, at the age of 84, still further diminishes the very small band of Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans.

He joined the Army at the outbreak of the Crimean War, and saw a good deal of fighting before and after the famous charge. He was attached to the 11th Hussars, who, with other regiments participating in the charge, won undying fame and inspired Tennyson to write one of his most moving poems.

Of those who entered the charge with the old veteran now gone not more than two or three are left. Sergeant-Major Parkinson was wounded in the leg by a bursting shell, but he was as fit as any of the seventy survivors when they answered roll call at The Windmill, a lonely place about halfway between Sebastopol and Balaclava.

Some time ago, relating the privations of the campaign to a Gazette representative, Sergeant-Major Parkinson said that next to the terrible lack of food and drink the troops suffered most from the state of their clothing. “Oh it was a cruel time,” he said. “Seventy of us were crowded into six old and poor tents filthy, cold and starving. Many of the poor chaps gave it up and lay down to die. When I think of it now I wonder how any of us survived.”

After peace was declared, warm clothing covered with mildew, was found near Sebastopol Harbour.

“In the canteens, in ’55, they were charging 2s. for a 2lb loaf of bread, 2s. 6.d for a bottle of stout and the same price for cheese that looked like cannon balls, but we were glad enough to pay what they asked.”

Upon leaving the Army Parkinson joined the Birmingham police force, retiring with the rank of sergeant, after serving twenty-six years. He was one of the founders of the Birmingham Military Veteran’s Association which was formed in 1894 for the purpose of aiding the local survivors of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns. There are now fewer than twenty members.

When King Edward VII visited Birmingham to open the University the deceased formed one of the guard of honour of Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans. His fine figure and splendid presence caught the eye of King Edward, who stopped, shook hands with the old warrior, and chatted with him for several minutes. Sergeant-Major Parkinson was the last of the survivors in Birmingham of the Balaclava charge.

Until last Saturday he was wonderfully active. He succumbed to an attack of pneumonia. The funeral will probably take place at Yardley Cemetery on Tuesday.

 
For more information: ‘The stories of the Light Brigade survivors’, Birmingham Post, 31 May 2013