Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Corporal Shorter: a short strut and fret ...



Fascinating photo

Amateur military dramatics



This is a picture of Corporal William Shorter bandsman of the 16th Lancers, stationed at York, in the role of Reuben Rags in the 2-act drama Ben Bolt ...

27 January 1864. York Theatre. Here's a review ...


Alas, the story doesn't have a happy ending. Little more than a year later ... 


He was buried at St Botolph's, Colchester ..


William Alexander Shorter, (b Meerut, Bengal, India 6 November 1830; d Colchester 6 April 1865) son of Alexander Shorter and his wife Amelia née McNeale. Married Jane Cartledge daughter of the foreman of the Little London Works, near Sheffield 9 October 1864 ...

PS Months later, these turned up ...

Corporal Shorter as Sir Richard Varney

Captain Gooch of the 16th Lancers (later the Yorkshire Hussars) as Ravina

and a further bundle of amateur-acting military Esquires

Charles Kennett Esq of the 18th Hussars who died 1 Dec 1867, soon after this photo

Lt Augustus Croft Dobree Esq of 16th Lancers, died India 2 August 1867

F F Collins Esq as the Earl of Sussex


A N Erskine as Wayland Smith in the burlesque Kenilworth



Yes .. this looks like the team. 1865 at Norwich.




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