Born in the parish of St. Mary's, Colchester, Essex.
Enlisted at London on the 28th of September 1839.
Age: 19 years 3 months.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Carpenter.
Fresh complexion. Grey eyes, Brown hair.
Joined the regiment in India from the Maidstone Depot on the 28th of October 1840.
At Varna on the 20th of September 1854 and no date is shown as to just when he rejoined the regiment in the Crimea proper.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of February 1855.
Sent to England on the 16th of February 1855, when he is shown as "Batman to Lord Lucan."
From Corporal to Sergeant: 25th of July 1855.
Discharged from Manchester on the 1st of December 1863.
"Free, to pension after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 31 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 7 months
In India: 1 year 1 month.
Conduct and character: "a good soldier". Was, when promoted, in possession of three Good Conduct badges, and would now have had five.
He was tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 7th of January 1848 and sentenced to 20 days' imprisonment, of which ten were remitted.
Aged 42 years 2 months on discharge.
Awarded a pension of 1/9d. per day.
To live at No. 7 St. John's Street, Westminster, London.
His documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
A Crimean medal, clasps for B.I. and S., with engraved naming to "Sergeant Joseph Hunniball. 4th Lt. Dragons." and his T.M., were sold at a Glendining's auction on the 30th of April 1920 and again on the 25th of July 1923. (on the second occasion the catalogue shows him as "Hanniball." ) This pair of medals were again sold at a Sotheby's auction on the 29th of July 1924. Named as previously shown in 1920.
He is described on the medal rolls as being "Servant to Lord Lucan."
A son, Joseph Michael, entered the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea on the 2nd of December 1854 at the age of 6 years. His father was shown as "Still alive," but his mother, Mary Anne, as "Dead." He enlisted into the 5th Lancers on the 4th of December 1862. He was then shown as being 14 years of age (attained the age of 15 years and on to "Man's Pay" from the 5th of December 1863) being 4" 10" in height and his Regimental number, 1024.