Crimea Medal with clasps 'Alma', 'Balaklava', 'Inkermann'
We don't know anything about Henry's family or early life. He joined the Army and served in the 63rd Regiment of Foot. He was given the service number 1959. This suggests he enlisted in around 1844.
We don't know anything about Henry's Army career, but the 63rd Regiment was based in Bellary in modern Karnataka State in India when he enlisted. It returned to the UK in 1847 and spent the next 4 years moving around a number of different stations in the UK. In 1851 the Regiment moved to Ireland, where it was first based in Limerick, and then moved to Dublin.
The Crimean War broke out in October 1853, and Britain and France declared war on Russia in March 1854. By this time Henry had been promoted to the rank of Corporal.
At first the 63rd Regiment was not intended to take part in the war, so it sent large numbers of soldiers to reinforce other Regiments that were. In June however, the British plans changed and the 63rd Regiment was ordered to prepare to go to war. Henry arrived in the Crimea, then in Russia but today part of the Ukraine, in September 1854.
The 63rd Regiment played a minor role in the Battle of the Alma on the 20th September. They then moved to Cathcart's Hill, where they joined the siege of Sevastopol. The Russians attacked these forces at the Battle of Balaklava on the 25th October.
Henry took part in this battle, which ended in a Russian victory and led to a much larger battle on the 5th November, at Inkerman.
The Russians were again the attackers, but the 63rd Regiment were ordered to counterattack. After vicious hand to hand fighting they pushed the Russians back to a position called the Barrier. The Russians were determined to take this position, but the regiment held them off. The 63rd Regiment lost around 18 men killed and around 100 wounded during the fighting.
The siege of Sevastopol continued through the winter of 1854-55. This was a harsh winter, and the British soldiers were poorly equipped. Warm clothing and shelter were in particularly short supply, and this meant that far more soldiers died of disease or exposure than were killed by the Russians.
We don't know which of these killed Henry, but he died at the British positions on the 'Heights of Sevastopol' on the 12th January 1855.
Henry was also awarded the 'Sebastopol' clasp to his Crimea Medal.
