Looking at life of man featured on Crimean War memorial in Lancaster cemetery

War historian Shaun Corkerry looks at one of the names starting with 2122 Pvt Matthew Fell 23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers).

Matthew was the son of Thomas and Ann Fell of Settle. Thomas was a tailor.

Matthew was baptised in Giggleswick Yorkshire on October 10, 1813.

He became a spinner but obviously tired of this and joined the 34th Foot on April 1 1838 deserting in January 1839. (not uncommon then following the shock of army life!)

He rejoined or was recaptured and remained in the 34th until May 1842 joining the 23rd Foot at Chichester in May 1842.

In 1851 the 1st Battalion 23rd Foot was at Plymouth and he is recorded in the census along with all his fellows. His age is given as 34-years-old but the census also says he was born in Bury.

This may also have been due to his desertion earlier on where some facts may have been modified.

Matthew married Agnes Fober from Lancaster in Liverpool in April 1853. Agnes was living in Shaws Brow in Liverpool.

Matthew could not write and his family were living in Islington at the time.

The 23rd Foot was sent to the Crimea in April 1854, and he took part in the battles of the Alma in September 1854 and Inkerman in November 1854.

The Lancaster papers printed a series of letters from Matthew to Agnes during this time, Matthew must have learned to write or dictated his letters.

Matthew was recorded as missing on December 20 1854.

He appears to have been taken prisoner in a trench raid by the Russians or because of a reconnaissance patrol by December 23. (It is unclear though the incident is referred to in a letter from one of his sergeants dated December 28 1854).

This section of the war is recorded as the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Final Bombardments of Sebastopol & Minor Actions or more commonly the siege of Sebastopol.

Matthew was officially recorded as having been taken prisoner and subsequently died in hospital at the city of Simpheropol as recorded in the London Gazette of June 1855.

During the Crimean War of 1854–1856, the Russian Imperial Army reserves and a hospital were stationed in the city.

After the war, more than 30,000 Russian (and British) soldiers were buried in the vicinity.

Matthew was awarded the Crimean war medal with clasps “Alma” and “Inkerman”. His age at death was recorded as 40.

Agnes, Matthews’ wife, was born in Claughton near Lancaster around August 1818 and in 1841 is shown as living in Union Street/Fleet Street Lancaster, where her father was a shoemaker.

In 1853 she appears to be living in Liverpool with her family, where she marries Matthew.

In 1861 she is shown as widowed and living in Rosemary Lane, Lancaster, with her aged mother.

In 1871 Agnes lives at 3 Bakehouse Road and is listed as a “Crimean Patriotic pensioner”.

In 1881 she lived at 9 Chapel Court, moving to 4 Chapel Court before 1891.

Agnes died on January 17 1892. There were no children from the marriage.

At last Agnes and Matthew were reunited.