Scrolls will honour Shropshire war veterans who fought Napoleon

On June 1 the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Colonel Edmund Thewles, will unveil scrolls commemorating soldiers of Oswestry who fought in the Peninsular War and Waterloo campaign in the early 19th century and the Crimean War of the 1850s.

June 18 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and Paul Ridgley, of Baschurch, who is a member of the Waterloo Association, said: "Myself and Ian Smith of the Crimean War Research Society have found a number of soldiers from the area who have no known grave or memorial and wish to record their service to the county and the country.

"To this end we initially raised funds for a bronze plaque which was dedicated in St Oswald's Church, Oswestry, in March last year but, due to the high cost, could not raise enough for their individual names to be recorded on the plaque.

"We have now, in partnership with the Shropshire War Memorials Association, raised enough funding to provide illuminated scrolls which will be placed in Oswestry Town Museum, along with a book we have put together giving biographical details of each man.

"The book will be available on sale at the museum to raise funding for the museum itself."

The scrolls are being unveiled at Oswestry Town Museum at 11am.

Among those commemorated are Alexander Gardiner, who was born at Kirkpatrick, Dumbarton, and enlisted into the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons, otherwise known as the "Scots Greys" at the age of 15 years. He was wounded at Waterloo, and a famous painting depicting the charge of the Scots Greys immortalised the regiment forever.

Paul said: "Discharged from the army in 1826 with the rank of Troop Sergeant Major, Alexander moved to Oswestry and enlisted onto the staff of the North Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry. On his death in 1848, it was estimated that over 4,000 people lined the route of his hearse to pay their respects to the Waterloo veteran. Alexander was buried with full military honours in St Oswald's churchyard.

"While living at Oswestry, Alexander had a son, also named Alexander. This young man followed in the family tradition and also enlisted into the Scots Greys. He fought in the Crimean War and was present with the Heavy Brigade at the battle of Balaclava. After the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade, the Heavy Brigade was ordered to cover the retreat of the survivors. In doing so, Alexander was hit in the left leg by a Russian cannonball, which completely disabled him.

"He was unable to move and was in danger of being killed by Russian gunfire. Private Harry Ramage of the 2nd Dragoons saw that Alexander was severely injured and, under a tremendous crossfire, he rode up to him, dismounted, pulled Alexander from his horse and, carrying him on his back, ran back to the safety of the British lines. For his gallantry on that day, Harry Ramage was awarded the Victoria Cross.

"Alexander's leg was amputated and he was discharged from the Army, whereupon he returned to Oswestry. A fund was set up to provide him with an artificial leg. As not enough money could be collected from the townsfolk of Oswestry, Mr Fox, the manager of the Savings bank in the town, wrote to Queen Victoria, explaining the situation. She immediately forwarded the necessary funds to enable Alexander to purchase a leg.

"Alexander later moved to Warrington, where he was employed as a clerk at the Dallam Forge Company. He died in May 1879."