Charles Wooden
Sergeant-Major (later Lieutenant and Quartermaster), 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own.)
- Register No.
- 1328 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant-Major (later Lieutenant and Quartermaster) (register: Sergeant) all Sergeant-Majors →
- Unit
- 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own.) all 17th Lancers VCs →
- Date of action
- 26 October 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 26th October 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 24th March 1827 at ?, Germany
- Died
- 24th April 1876 at Dover, Kent. (Believed to have shot
- Memorial / grave
- St. James's Cemetery, Dover
Digest of citation
On 26th October 1854, in the Crimea, at Balaclava , Sergeant-Major Wooden went out with a surgeon* to the assistance of an officer who was lying seriously wounded in an exposed position, after the retreat of The Light Cavalry. He helped dress the officer's wounds under heavy fire from the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
WOODEN, Charles. (Reg.No. 1328)
Sergeant-Major (later Lieutenant and Quartermaster) 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own.)
London Gazetted on 26th October 1858.
Born on: 24th March 1827 at ?, Germany.
Died on: 24th April 1876 at Dover, Kent. (Believed to have shot himself.)
Memorial at: St. James's Cemetery, Dover.
Digest of Citation reads: On 26th October 1854, in the Crimea, at Balaclava , Sergeant-Major Wooden went out with a surgeon* to the assistance of an officer who was lying seriously wounded in an exposed position, after the retreat of The Light Cavalry. He helped dress the officer's wounds under heavy fire from the enemy.
* Surgeon James MOUAT( Reg. No 893.)
Additional Information: He had a ginger beard and was known in the 17th Lancers as, "tish me--the devil." The nick-name came about because of a broken English reply he gave when challenged by a sentry.who didn't recognise him. He rode in the charge of The Light Brigade. It is believed that he shot himself on the 24th of April 1876 at the age of 49, one month after his birthday.
Additional information
He had a ginger beard and was known in the 17th Lancers as, "tish me--the devil." The nick-name came about because of a broken English reply he gave when challenged by a sentry.who didn't recognise him. He rode in the charge of The Light Brigade. It is believed that he shot himself on the 24th of April 1876 at the age of 49, one month after his birthday.
* Surgeon James MOUAT( Reg. No 893.)
himself.)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St. James's Cemetery, Dover
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Charles Wooden by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.