For details of who were the Regiments please see

During the time that James spent in the army the postings of his regiment are

21st Regiment

This would tie in with his nearly seven years in the East Indies. Whether he was just in India is not clear at this stage. 

In 1848 they were recorded as being in Scotland and it is at the end of that year that he was transferred to the 55^th Regiment.

55th Regiment

We know that the regiment was stationed in Ireland from 1846 during the Irish problem and he probably went straight there on transfer. He got married in Dublin in the middle of 1849. 

In 1851 it appears they were stationed in England and in Ireland again in 1853. Although as the second son James was born in 1855 in London it seems likely that the family had settled in London prior to his posting back to Ireland. 

In 1854 they were in Turkey and the following year in the Crimean.  

On the internet I have found that James Bussicott (army number 2629) was wounded in action in the Crimean War on 8^th September 1855. 

He was wounded in the final assault of the Great Redan which was one of the fortresses guarding the city of Sebastopol by the Black Sea. 

Returning to Britain we soon find the regiment sent to Gibraltar and in 1856 James spent just three months there before moving back to England where he was discharged due to eye problems after thirty years in the army. 

As described elsewhere he continued to live in London and had an additional 6 children in addition to William and James. So his eyes weren’t causing him a trouble in that regard.

PROCEEDINGS OF A REGIMENTAL BOARD

HELD ON 13th OCTOBER 1856 IN PARKHURST?

This reports on the details of Sergeant James Bussicott  No.2629 and confirms his service that he joined the 21^st Regiment of Foot on 15^th July 1841 aged 15 years 5 months. He served 12 years and 243 days with 21^st Regiment and the 55^th Regiment. 

Note: we know from the 1841 census that in April 1841, aged 15, James was with his brother John at Chatham barracks as a soldier. It therefore looks as if he was in the barracks in April but did not actually sign up until July. 

In his service record he is recorded as underage from 15^th July 1841 until 14^th February 1844. We must assume therefore that he was actually born on 15^th February 1826 (we only knew up until now that he was born in Pimlico in 1826) and reached 18 in the army.

His service record was :

This totalled 12 years and 243 days. Then he had further service from 14^th October 1856 until his final discharge on 25^th November 1856 – a further 43 days.

As you can see this excludes the 2 years 7 months he was underage and therefore he actually was in the army for over 15 years.

During this time his service abroad is made up of:

From his pay records we can see he left the Crimean on 15^th June 1856 and arrived in England on 12^th August 1856. 

The Discharge was proposed in consequence of “ being unfit for further service” (see later) 

With regard to the Character and Conduct of Sergeant James Bussicott the Board have to report that upon reference to the Defaulter’s Book “his character is good and that he was in possession of two Good Conduct Badges when promoted”. 

His Medical Report states. 

Has 15 years and 3 months service but 6 years and 2 months has been in the East Indies and where he had some attacks of Intermittent Fever. Was invalided from the Cimea in May 1856 on account of Ophthalmia (inflammation of the eye) which he states was prevalent then. He also states the disease commenced by Catarrhal Ophthalmia from exposure on night duty and which disease appears to have become chronic but has not apparently affected much the other structures of the organ itself so as to impair vision. 

The Principal Medical Officer at Chatham on 28^th October 1856 states After examination of Sergeant James Bussicott I am of the opinion that he is unfit for further service having chronic Ophthalmia of both eyes. 

The Discharged was then approved the General Commander-In-Chief of the regiment on 25^th November 1856. 

His final description when he was discharged in Chatham dated 25^th November 1856 was he was aged 30 years and 8 months, was 4 feet 9 inches tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. 

4 Foot 9 Inches !!!!!!