55th Regiment of Foot Service 1840-1854

John joined the army at the end of 1840 as recorded in his enlistment record and then served in China for over 2 years in the First Opium War (being the first Anglo-Chinese War) between 1840-1842. The various battles that they fought in China are listed in the Regimental history as:

• 5th July 1840 in Tinghai,
• January 7th 1841 Bogue Forts,
• 26th August 1841 at Amoy,
• 29th September 1841 in Tinhai (again),
• 10th October 1841 at Chinhai,
• 13th October 1841 at Ningpo,
  then Nanking
• and in 1842 at Chiang Kiang Foo.

At the storming and capture of Ching Kiang Foon on the 21st July 1842 John distinguished himself and was severely wounded and for which service he received a medal.

The regiment returned to Britain. In 1844 the regiment having returned home was based in London and then in 1846 in Ireland.

If your knowledge of history is better than mine you will know that Great Potato Famine happened between 1840 and 1845, when a million Irish died from hunger and a million immigrated mostly to the USA.

There was also a minor rebellion in 1845 when the English sent more troops to Ireland.

By 1851 the Regiment were in Gibraltar. In England, Ireland and Gibraltar John got into lots of trouble as you can see from the record of his crimes and punishments in the Regiments Defaulters Book. This included 24 hours in the ‘Black Hole’. Also he was subject to a Court Martial in Dublin on 12th November 1849.

Eventually he left the army and I have a copy of the Proceedings of the Regimental Board held on 29th November 1853 in Gibraltar. In summary John was discharged following his conduct in Gibraltar. However he was not actually discharged until 3rd July 1854 and Medical Certificates show he had Chronic Rheumatism and Cardiac Disease.

He was also found to have had a musket ball in his right shoulder that had to be extracted.