Born at Brighton, Sussex.
Enlisted at Brighton on the 9th of January 1839.
Trade: Tailor.
No other enlistment details are shown.
"Deserted" from Dundalk on the 25th of May 1839 at 5 a.m., apprehended on the 27th of May, and imprisoned 4th-30th of June 1839 by a Regimental Court-martial.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Medora" on the 27th of April 1854.
From Private to Corporal: 18th of December 1854.
According to 1131 John Doyle's "Memoirs" it was "James Nigh" [sic] who carried the despatch telling of the finding and capture of the Russian convoy at Mackenzie's Farm.
Corporal to Sergeant: 29th of August 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Served at Kotah (1858).
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 3rd of July 1859.
Reduced to Sergeant (no reason stated), on the 7th of June 1861.
Died at Meerut, India, on the 15th of June 1861.
Entitled (according to the medal rolls), to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
He does not appear on the Balaclava clasp roll but there is a "B" (for Balaclava) by the side of his entitlements on the Alma/Inkerman clasp roll.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Died at Meerut, India, on the 15th of June 1861.
Next of kin: Brother, Anthony Nye, living at 17, New Broad Street, Blackfriars, London.
The India Office records show him as dying of "Apolexia [PB: apoplexia?] and Heat" at Meerut on the 15th of June 1861, aged 41 years. He was buried on the following day in the Cantonment Cemetery at Meerut by the Revd. C.J.W. Rotten. Chaplain.
His name is recorded on a tablet placed on a wall of St. John's Garrison Church at Meerut. (See record of 979 Thomas Hanrahan, 8th Hussars.)