Born in the East Indies. (Some muster rolls show this as being at Kirkee.)
The India Office records show him as having been born at Meerut, India, on the 2nd of November 1836, the son of Private George Clout of the 4th Light Dragoons and his wife, Anna.
He was baptised on the 13th of December by the Revd. David Young, Chaplain. (See record of his brother, 1491 George Clout, 4th Light Dragoons, for details of their father's service in the regiment.)
Educated at the Royal Hibernian School, Dublin, and "Returned to his father" on the 6th of November 1851.
[PB, 22.11.2013: A summary of Wendy Leahy's notes on 634 George Clout [father], can be viewed here, and those on 1514 James Clout here. It is hoped that these findings will eventually be integrated with the rest of this entry.]Enlisted, "By Special Authority", at Dublin on the 27th of October 1853, "To go to the Band".
Age: 15 years.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: None shown.
From Private to Trumpeter: 11th of November 1853.
Sent to the Depot at Manchester when the regiment went to the Crimea.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 17th of July 1855.
"Absent" from the regiment on the 21st of April 1858.
In custody of the Civil Power at Winchester 21st of May — 19th of December 1858.
In military confinement to the 31st of December 1858.
Reduced to Private "in his absence".
"Absent" from the regiment on the 5th of June 1860 and escaped from the escort at Liverpool when being brought back on a Deserters' Route [? EXPLAIN] on the 5th of July until rejoining the regiment on the 28th of October 1860.
[PB: Note his brother George (1491 George Clout, 4th Light Dragoons) also deserted around this time. Was there a connection?]
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial for "Insubordinate Conduct" on the 12th of July 1861 and sentenced to 168 days' imprisonment.
[PB: It would seem that until the 18th of December 1862 James Clout was paid his father, George's, pension while George was an Assistant Warder in the Convict Prison in Bermuda (from the 1st of July 1857 onward). After this date, it was paid direct to his mother. See the record of 1491 George Clout, 4th Light Dragoons [brother]]
Discharged, "with ignominy", from Cahir Barracks, Co. Tipperary, on the 6th of May 1863, following his being sentenced to "penal servitude". He also forfeited all of his previous service by this conviction. [PB: is this for the same offence as above, or for a new offence?].
Conduct and character: "Bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
In November 2013, the EJBA was contacted by New Zealand-based Wendy Leahy, whose remarkable website (Shadows of Time) includes detailed information about the 4th Light Dragoons in the nineteenth century. We are very grateful to her for adding considerably to our knowledge of the lives of the Clout family.
Our summary of her notes on James Clout can be viewed here.
Her own pages on George Clout [father] can be viewed here, George Clout [son] here, and James Clout here (all accessed 21.11.2013).