Robert Martin Pilgrim (170) and Samuel Washington Tamer McKenzie Pilgrim (192), where brothers who both served as Yeoman Warders at The Tower of London

Robert Pilgrim was a Yeoman Warder from 1st July 1912 to 14th January 1948

Samuel Pilgrim was a Yeoman Warder from 1st January 1924 to 8th March 1944

Their father James Henry Pilgrim, born 16th June 1838 in Lambeth London, was a sergeant Major (W0II) in the 4th Bn West Riding Regiment (Died 5th February 1917), he Married a Elizabeth Caroline Hewett Born: 27th January 1845 in. St Helena (as a British Subject), (She died 21st March 1909 in Middlesex, England)

They had 8 children

  1. John Pilgrim b 1863 in Malta
  2. Sarah b.1868 in the West Indies
  3. James Henry Albert Pilgrim b. 4th October 1867 at Aldershot d 5th January 1959
  4. Richard Arthur Patrick b. 7th Aug 1870 Buttevant, Cork Ireland
  5. Samuel Washington Tamer McKenzie Pilgrim 11th July 1874 on HMS Tamar d 12 February 1954
  6. Robert Martin Pilgrim b.24th January 1876 in Aldershot, d.14th January 1948
  7. Nelly May Heppzibah Pilgrim 20th February 1878, New Barracks, Halifax8th March 1951, 14, Alexandra Rd, Worthing
  8. Charles Augustus Pilgrim19th December 1872, Curragh, Kildare, Ireland, D 11th April 1920, in Yorkshire

James Henry Albert Pilgrim, was born 4th October 1868 in Aldershot, he enlisted in to the Duke Of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), on 30th October 1886, like the other two brother he served in South Africa in the Boer War, he had the following medals:

  1. Queen South Africa Medal Clasps
    1. Driefontein
    2. Paardeberg
    3. Transvaal
    4. Kimberley
  2. Kings South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. 1901
    2. 1902

Richard Arthur Patrick born 7th Aug 1870 Buttevant, Cork Ireland, also enlists in the Duke Of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) he has a complicated military life

27th Aug 1885 (No.1476) to 3 Jan 1898         Duke Of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

5 Oct 1897 (No. 1304) to 22 Oct 1904           Coldstream Guards

8 Dec 1914 to 20 Dec 1915                            Essex Regiment

6 Feb 1917 (No. 6943) to 22 Jun 1920           Royal Canadian Regiment

While with the Coldstream Guards he received the following medals:

  1. Queen South Africa Medal Clasps
    1. Belmont
  2. Kings South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. 1901
    2. 1902

He is quite badly injured, at the battle of Belmont with a gunshot wound to his foot, he also found himself in trouble being AWOL 8th April 1899, and again 9th February 1902 convicted for breaking out of barracks, Richard marry a Harriet Yelton, and have three boys Harry, Thomas, Willie.

Yeoman Warders (YW) Samuel Washington Tamer McKenzie Pilgrim born: 11th July 1874 on HMS Tamar (died 12thFebruary 1954 in Worthing), also referred to as Tamer.  Samuel was a YW from 1st January 1924 replacing YW Walter Barker (164) to 8th March 1944 when he retired, and replaced by Frank Dixon Military Cross (MC) (232)

Samuel broke from the family tradition and enlisted on 1st October 1888 into the East Yorkshire Regiment, (No. 5060) and discharged 30th June 1917

He must have done something else as he did not become a YW until 1924

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel had the following medals:

  1. Queen South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. Wittebergen
    2. Cape Colony

      Samuel in the middle, he only picture I could find of Samuel

    3. Transvaal
  2. Kings South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. 1901
    2. 1902
  3. Long Service & Good Conduct Silver Medal
  4. Silver War Badge (No. 217201)

As he was at home during the War he was also issued a Silver War Badge (No. 217201) Overage Para 3

I don’t think he married, but he did live in the Tower

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel passed away in Worthing

 

 

 

His brother Robert Martin Pilgrim (170) born 24th January 1876 in Aldershot (died 14th January 1948).  Was also a Yeoman Warder from 1912 (aged 40) replacing John Beard.

He Enlisted: 24th December 1889 (age 14) at Halifax to the West Riding Regt (The Duke of Wellingtons) like his father, and was discharged 11th February 1911 at Gosport (Army No. 2578) Died: 14th January 1948 Heart Failure, in 8 Tower Green, and was replaced by Edwards Harry (239)

He had the following medals

  1. Queen South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. Dreifontein
    2. Transvaal
    3. Relief of Kimberley
  2. Kings South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. 1901
    2. 1902
  3. Long Service & Good Conduct Silver Medal

    Robert Pilgrim

  4. 1937 Coronation Medal
  5. Meritorious Service Medal
  6. Defence Medal 1939-45

I do not think he was involved in the First War as he did not have any war medals.

Wife: Mary Mona Born 1885, they had one child, Charlotte Mona born 6th April 1906 in India.

When serving in the Tower as a Yeoman Warder he lived in the Lived, Beauchamp tower deprived of quarter 16th April 1923 for misconduct!

Then moved into, 8 Tower Green 3rd September 1925, then No. 1 The Casemates 18th September 1926

Medals:

  1. Queen South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. Dreifontein
    2. Transvaal
    3. Relief of Kimberley
  2. Kings South Africa Medal Clasp
    1. 1901
    2. 1902
  3. Long Service & Good Conduct Silver Medal
  4. 1937 Coronation Medal
  5. Meritorious Service Medal
  6. Defence Medal 1939-45

The only medal not accounted for

Missing is the Delhi Durbar Medal; but our early archivist often omitted which was not, a medals in the true sense – After a yeoman career of thirty five years and six months, he died in No. 8 Tower Green on 4th January 1948.

The old record book showed his Burial Service in St. Peter’s at 2 p.m. on 21st January 1948 but as his burial as such is not entered into the Burial Register, the ‘burial’ alluded to was probably a short service of remembrance before the hearse carried his body away from the Tower for burial elsewhere.

Charles Augustus Pilgrim born 19th December 1872, Curragh, Kildare, Ireland, passed away 11th April 1920, in Yorkshire, he enlisted 27th October 1893 into the East Yorkshire Regiment (No.4487), he also served with the Devon Regiment (No. 5934) (No. 62934) (No. 1030 or 4030)

He was with the British Expeditionary Force (Old Contemptable) he had a large group of medals

  1. Queens South Africa Medal Clasps
    1. Orange Free State,
    2. Cape Colony
  2. Kings South Africa Medal
    1. 1901
    2. 1902
  3. 1914 Star,
  4. British War Medal,
  5. Victory Medal

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