Private 1660 William Chignall 90th Regiment

A really sad story and no way to treat a old soldier but no he did not take part in the Zulu war looking at his clasp.
At least now, in a way, he is back alongside his mates on the ramparts.

"COFFIN IN A CART. ZULU WAR VETERAN'S BURIAL. A Tiptree message states:—Considerable public indignation has been aroused in the Tiptree district of Essex: over the circumstances of the burial of William Chignall, a Zulu War veteran, who died last week at Inworth and received a paupers funeral. The widow was not told by the authorities till the actual day of the burial when or where the funeral would take place. The coffin was taken to the churchyard in a cart, the widow being the sole mourner. though representatives of the British Legion desired to be present."

Belfast Telegraph - Monday 22 October 1923

Duttons p314 90th Regiment 1660 Chignall W 1877-78 clasp.
If anyone can prove he did take part in the AZW that would be nice.

"Hero's End. - The body of William Chignall, an aged and destitute hero of the 99th Foot, who served with Conspicuous gallantry in the Zulu War, was taken to the grave at Tiptree, Essex, under disgraceful circumstances. Representatives of the British Legion there were anxious to salute the dead fighter, but after the bereaved widow had been waiting for instructions from the Poor Law Union for five days, the corpse was hurried to the grave In a cart, with nobody to do the veteran reverence., What has Tiptree to say about this treatment by its Poor Law Officials of one of our builders of the Empire?"

John Bull - Saturday 03 November 1923
Not the 99th

He joined the 90th on the 6th January 1878 as one of a large number of transfers from other Regiments to make up the strength for the overseas posting.

His number was 1460 the later pay-lists have 1469. The medal rolls are notorious for inaccurate listings, the chap above him for the most part was not Chatham but Cheetham.

William Chignall served in South Africa right through to October 1879 then back to England, though if he crossed the border it's impossible to say. Not sure of the locations of the 90th.

Bill

Hi All,
William Chignall [Chignell on military papers and census], enlisted 28 sept 1868 age 19, born Inworth Essex 1849, to 49th Regt, transferred to 60/1640 90th 5 Jan 1878, to Cape 9 Feb 1878, in Natal 21 Sept 1878, unfit for duty due to debility at Utrecht 9 Dec 1878, to 2/21st 1 July 1881, Discharged 11 Feb 1890 at Gosport, 21 yrs. [Strangly his papers state under medals 1877 clasp, but the roll gives 77/78 clasp, obviously he was not in S Africa in 1877 bit of a conumdrum??]
1891 census Messing Lexden Essex he is a Agricultral Labourer, 1901 census Inworth Lexden, Agri Lab married to Rose.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.