Born at Tidenham, near Chepstow c.1823
Enlisted at Gloucester on the 28th of November 1843.
Age: 19 years 7 months.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Stone-mason.
Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Lt. brown hair.
Wounded in action at Balaclava, ("Severely" according to his documents, but "Slightly" according to the casualty lists.)
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854 and invalided to England on the 27th of February 1855.
Appointed to Farrier (as Sergeant) on the 4th of February 1860.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 24th of December 1867.
"Free, at own request after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 25 days.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Four times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Aged 43 years 8 months on discharge.
He was awarded a pension of 1/8d. per day.
To live at Rose Cottage, Woodcraft, Chepstow, Monmouthshire.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
He was living in New Zealand from the 1st of July 1874.
He was still living in Christchurch, New Zealand, at least up to the end of December 1878.
See Wendy Leahy: "Shadows of Time" databases. The editors are very grateful to Wendy for allowing us to include information from her website.
JAMES TYLER
BORN: c1824
BAPTISED: 2 May 1824
AT: Tidenham, Gloucestershire
FATHER: Charles Tyler, Mason
MOTHER: Mary [Price]
SIBLINGS: Ellen Tyler, Mary Tyler
REGIMENT NO: 1194
ENLISTED: 27 11 1843 Gloucester aged 19 years 7 months
HEIGHT AT ENLISTMENT: 5' 9"
RANK: 1843: Private
1854-1855: Private
1864: Farrier as Sergeant
EMBARKATIONS: March 1855: From Scutari to England
13 Dec 1873 Ditharree/Dilharrie England
DISEMBARKATIONS: 11 Mar 1874 Ditharree/Dillharrie Canterbury NZ
OTHER DUTIES: Wounded at Balaklava Crimea 25 10 1854
27 10 1854: To Scutari
March 1855: From Scutari to England
ADMITTED TO OUT PENSION: 24 12 1867: [Gloucester]
PENSION DISTRICT: [1867]: Gloucester
1874: New Zealand 1/7
POST DISCHARGE OCCUPATION: Farrier, Retired pensioner
POST DISCHARGE ADDRESSES: Glendower Street, Monmouth, Monmouthshire
27 Crescent Road, St Albans, Christchurch, NZ
DIED: 3 Jul 1900 27 Crescent Road, St Albans, Christchurch, NZ
BURIED: 5 Jul 1900 Public Cemetery, Linwood
WILL: Died intestate. Public Trustee Joseph William Poynton appointed 25 July 1900.
NOTES: Schedule or list of property belonging to the Estate of James Tyler:
Cash, estimated value £9/-/10
Effects, estimated value £25/-/-
Jewellery, estimated value £1-/-/
Total, estimated value £35/-/10.
1ST WIFE: Ann Price
MARRIED: 3Q 1855 Chepstow Ref. 11a 17
BORN: c1822 Chepstow, Monmouthshire
DIED: c1887 New Zealand, aged 65 years
NOTES: Emigrated to NZ with James in 1873-1874
1871 CENSUS: RG10/5304
Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Glendower Street
Schedule 93
James Tyler, Head, Married, 47, Shoesmith, Gloucester
Anne Tyler, Wife, Married, 49, Chepstow
Harriet Price, Neice [sic], Married, 12, Scholar, Middlesex Shoreditch
Hannah Walters, Lodger, Unmarried, _0, Dressmaker, Monmouth
Schedule 94
James Price, Head, Married, 51, Woolstapler, Gloucester
Eleanor Price, Wife, 47, Dressmaker, Gloucester
Laura Price, Dau, Unmarried, 25/26, Dressmaker, Gloucester
Catherine Price, Dau, Unmarried, 18, Dressmaker, Monmouth
Frederick Price, Son, 11, Scholar, Monmouth
Clara Price, Dau, 6, Scholar, Monmouth
Minnie Price, Dau, 6, Scholar, Monmouth
TNA SOURCES: WO/12/653
WO/12/659
WO/12/668
WO/23/62
OTHER SOURCES: Honour the Light Brigade
Archives NZ Probate Records 1843-1998, 1900 P6995/00-P7044/00
Archives NZ Passenger Lists 1839-1973, IM-CH-4-10-109
[Wendy Leahy, Shadows of Time, 4th Light Dragoons: James Tyler]