Stephen Reese was 21 when he joined the 9th Lancers on 15 April 1818 at Bristol. He was from Narberth, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, described as 5’9” with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He served in the regiment for 22 years, entirely on home duty; seven years as a Private, two years as a Corporal, six years as a Sergeant and seven years as a Troop Sergeant-Major. This painting is by Dubois Drahonet and taken from a reproduction in a National Army Museum publication, Portraits for a King by Jenny Spencer-Smith (1990). He was painted in 1832 to show the uniform (described in Uniforms)
TSM Reese ended his career tragically on 28 April 1840. He attempted suicide at Hounslow Barracks with disastrous consequences, only managing to shoot is jawbone away which rendered him unable to speak or chew his food. For six years he had suffered ill health with severe hepatitis, ‘pulmonic affections’ obstipatia, and dyspepsia. Mentally he was extremely despondent and suffered ‘domestic vexation’. He should have been court-martialed for this ‘crime’ but his CO, the Earl of Rosslyn, made a special plea to Lord Hill, the Commander-in-Chief to give him an ordinary discharge, with a pension. Rosslyn’s wish was granted and poor TSM Reese ended his days disfigured and even more despondent.
