Hi Plumbob,
Happy to say, I found a short piece about Richard Brown in the Lancaster Guardian. Also the librarian passed me your email address so I'll scan the printout and send it to you. However I'm replying here as well because
a) I have a new laptop and not sure it's talking to the printer yet, so might take a while to scan
b) I'm showing off because I found it
Here it is in full as it's a touching piece and might interest others:
Lancaster Guardian, 4th July 1855, page 5:
"Wm. Brown, a sawyer employed by the Canal Company, received a letter a few days ago announcing the death, by cholera, on the 25th ult., of his son Richard, who enlisted in Lancaster into the 55th Regiment, a few years ago. the intelligence is communicated by Lance Sergeant William Spencer of the 55th, who feelingly alludes to his decease. He says 'On the evening he was taken ill I was taking a walk through the camp, and as soon as I came back I was very much surprised to hear that he was in the hospital, very bad with the cholera, as just before I left the tent I had spoken to him. Our regiment has lost a number of men lately by cholera. What with the war and sickness, us fellows has enough to do. One day last week we was expecting to have an engagement with the enemy, and your son was saying in the event of anything should happen to him, we should find your directions in his Testament. So you see what a curious place this is to be in, as we do not know our last minute... your son is entitled to a medal and some clasps, so you will have to apply to the War Office, for he was present all through the engagements, excepting at Balaklava,' etc"
Barbara