Born in Stratford, London.
Enlisted at London in the 15th of September 1854.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 5".
Trade: Servant.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Joined the Regiment in the Crimea on the 20th of June 1855.
Re-engaged at Perth for a further period of 12 years service on the 12th of September 1866.
Embarked for India from Portsmouth aboard the "Serapia" on the 15th of October 1867.
He is shown on the Regimental "Married roll" at Canterbury Cavalry Depot from the 15th of April 1872, his wife's name being Jane.
There was one child in the family at this time, but a daughter, Amy Pheobe Caroline, had died at Meerut on the 17th of June 1868, aged 1 year 6 days, and was buried in the Meerut Cantonment Cemetery
Invalided to England on the 12th of March 1872.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 25th of October 1875: "Free, at own request, after 21 years' service."
Served 21 years 44 days. In the Crimea: 1 year 4 days. East Indies: 4 years 185 days.
Conduct: "very good." Eighteen times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 39 years 6 months on discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal, clasp for Sebastopol, T. M. and the Long service medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 2nd of August 1873 with a gratuity of £5.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
His Crimean medal, with clasp for Sebastopol, was known to be in an English collection in 1980.
He was living in Canterbury from the 1st of March 1876, although his place of residence on discharge was given as No. 5 Engine Street, Piccadilly, London.
Births registered
Sarah Jane Oliver, June Quarter 1874, Canterbury.
William James Oliver, June Quarter 1877, Canterbury.
1881 Census
No 1, St Martin's Hill, Canterbury.
James Oliver, aged 44, Licensed Victualler & Chelsea Pensioner, born London.
Jane Oliver, 36, born Dublin.
Elizabeth Oliver, 11, born Bengal, India.
Sarah Oliver, 6, born Canterbury.
William Oliver, 3, born Canterbury.
Walter Oliver, aged 2, born Canterbury.