Born in the parish of St. Mary's, Lichfield
Enlisted at Coventry on the 19th of February 1852.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Clock-maker.
Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
At Scutari General Hospital from the 22nd of September 1854, sent to rejoin the regiment on the 3rd of October 1854, sent back on the 26th of October and rejoined the regiment on the 3rd of February 1855.
Sent to England on the 16th of May 1855.
"Deserted" off furlo on the 30th of January 1857 and rejoined the regiment on the 9th of August 1857. He was tried by a District Court-martial, sentenced to be branded with the letter "D" for this offence, and also imprisoned from the 9th of August to the 28th of September 1857. His release was ordered by His Royal Highness, the Commander in Chief, on the 27th of September.
EJB: This was most probably to allow him to go to India with the regiment.
He also forfeited all of his previous service (4 years 334 days) but this was restored by War Office Authority letter, dated the 12th of August 1862.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain on the 8th of October 1857.
The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.
In action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
Re-engaged for 12 years further service at Aldershot on the 29th of June 1866:
"In cells" for "being drunk", 7th-10th of March 1868.
Discharged from Dublin on the 4th of November 1873. as "Free discharge, to pension after 21 years service."
Served In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years. In India: 7 years 1 month.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Ten times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Aged 40 years 6 months on discharge.
Awarded a pension of 10d. per day.
To live in Priorstown, Kildare, Ireland on discharge.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean, Mutiny and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
A request was sent from the War Office to the East India Company's medallists for a replacement Mutiny medal (without clasp) to be issued to him "at his own expense" (7/6d.) This medal was sent on the 15th of July 1869.
He was living in the Derby Pension District in 1873.
1881 Census
9, Rookery St, Court No 1, Wednesfield, Stafford.
A "James Walker", aged 50, born Lichfield, Staffs, is shown as an "Agricultural Labourer out of employ" lodging in the household of Jacob Rowley. He was unmarried. [RM]