Born at Kirkpatrick, near Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (The LDS Church records show a William Corson as being baptised on the 7th of February 1832 at Parton, Kirkudbrightshire, the son of John Corson and his wife, Janet, nee Donaldson.)
Enlisted at Nottingham on the 28th of July 1851.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Travelling-Draper.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.
On detached duty in the Riding School at Sandhurst during 1860/61 and transferred to the 14th Hussars at Sandhurst on the 14th of March 1861 with the Regimental No. of 504, after being re-engaged at Sandhurst for a further 12 year period of service.
Discharged from Colchester on the 31st of August 1875 as "Free, at own request after 24 years service."
Served 24 years 16 days. In Bulgaria, Turkey and the Crimea, 1 year 309 days.
Conduct: "very good". In possession of three Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 44 years on discharge.
To live, C/o. Mrs. Coates, Kirkpatrick.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal (whilst serving in the 14th Hussars) and without a gratuity, on the 31st of November 1874.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps.
[RM: The 1861 Census shows him at Sandhurst, cavalry quarters hut as "Army, transferred to 14th Light Dragoons". By 1871 he was still at Sandhurst, at the "Cavalry Barracks, unmarried quarters".]