Riding Master John Atkins PickworthHart's List details his War Services - "Riding Master Pickworth served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55 with the 8th Hussars,including the reconnaissance to Silistria, Battles of Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and the Tchernaya, affairs of Bulganak and M'Kenzie's Farm, siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal with four Clasps, French War Medal, and Turkish Medal). Served in the Indian campaigns of 1858-59 and was present at the capture of Kotah, reoccupation of Chundaree, battle of Kota ke Serai, capture of Gwalior, and action of Boordah (Medal with Clasp)."
He enlisted in the 8th Hussars c. 1840, with the Regimental Number 840.
Sergeant Pickworth would embark to the Crimea in the H.T.'Medora' on April 27th 1854. He was to feature in the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade", one of the "Gallant Six Hundred" immortalized by Lord Tennyson.
He was promoted to Troop Sergeant-Major on the next day, October 26th, 1854.
The 8th Hussars would remain in the Crimea until April 1856, to come back home, before being sent to India in September 1857, at the outbreak of the Mutiny.
Pickworth was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major on October 16th, 1857, and appointed Riding-Master on August 31st, 1858.
He came back from India with the 8th Hussars on board the St. Lawrence East Indiaman, leaving Calcutta on the 13th of January 1864, calling at the Cape of Good Hope on the 1st of March, at St. Helena on the 12th of March and reaching Portmouth on Tuesday afternoon, April 26th, 1864.
He was appointed to the Cavalry Depôt on April 28th, 1875. He would retire on half-pay, with the honorary rank of Captain, on April 24th, 1879, being installed as a Military Knight of Windsor on the same day.
He was a Member of the 1879 Balaclava Commemoration Society.
His obituary was published in "The Times" on February 23d, 1901 -
"Captain John Atkins Pickworth, a Military Knight of Windsor, formerly of the 8th Hussars and Cavalry depot Staff, died early yesterday morning at his residence in the Lower Ward, Windsor Castle. Captain Pickworth was born on March 18, 1824, and was consequently nearly 77 years of age. He joined the Army on February 18, 1840, and served in the 8th Hussars for upwards of 35 years. He served in the Crimean campaign, including the Earl of Cardigan's reconnaissance of Silistria, and in the indian Mutiny, and was in 12 engagements - Bulganac, Alma, McKenzie's Farm, Balaclava, Inkerman, Tchernaya, and Sevastopol, in the Crimea, and the capture of Kotah, the reoccupation of Chundaree, the battle of Kota-keserai, the capture of Gwalior, and the action of Boordah, in India.
He rode in the famous charge of the Six Hundred at Balaclava, and was one of a squadron that charged into and through the enemy's camp at Kota-keserai, in India, in which several guns were captured.he received four medals and five clasps, was recommended for the Victoria Cross, and his name was twice mentioned in the records of his regiment for having "distinguished himself by his steadiness and coolness in keeping the men together and the squadron unbroken" - after the death of the officers in the Light Brigade charge at Balaklava - and during the Indian Mutiny, at Kota-keserai, when, owing to the death of his officer, he succeeded to the command of a troop covering the retreat, and was recommended for and awarded the commission vacant by the death of Lieutenant Reilly, who was killed in action. Captain Pickworth was selected by the Duke of Cambridge, then Commander-in-Chief, for the Cavalry Depot Staff on May 12, 1875, and was appointed by the late Queen Victoria a Military Knight of Windsor on April 24, 1879, after over 39 years of continuous service."
http://www.hussards-photos.com/UK/UK_Canterbury_BIG.htm#WOODS