William Daunt was born in 1831 and entered the army as an ensign in the 9th East Norfolk Regiment in 1848. Lieutenant William Daunt served in the Crimean War from 27 Nov 1854. In the siege of Sevastopol he was in the assault on the cemetery on 18 June. He served with the regiment in China and Japan and distinguished himself in Japan when, in command of a detachment he led a bayonet charge against a group of ‘fanatics’ who attacked the Consul General Sir Henry Parkes on 23 March 1868.
In the 2nd Afghan War he led an attack on the Ghilzais on 26 April 1880, consisting of two companies of the 9th and two companies of the 23rd Pioneers. He commanded the 2nd Battalion The Norfolk Regiment from May 1878 until 1883 when he went on half pay and was given command of the 28th Regimental District (Gloucestershire Regiment). He was married and died on 27 November 1899.
The photo shows Major William Daunt c1873 wearing dress uniform, his rank denoted by the gold lace and braid on his sleeve and the embroidered stars on his collar. He has medals for the Crimean War including the central large medal which is the Order of the Medjidie. He is wearing boots and breeches as he was one of the three mounted officers on parade, along with the CO and the Adjutant. Mounted officers had a sabretache which this photo reveals as having an especially large version of the Britannia badge.
1848 Ensign 13 Sep
1853 Lieutenant 15 Feb
1856 Captain 29 Feb
1872 Major 14 Feb
1878 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 18 Mar
1878 Lieutenant-Colonel 1 May
1883 relinquished command
1886 Honorary Major General 17 Mar
Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
