Born at Drang, near Cavan, Ireland, c.1828.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 22nd of October 1846.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Clerk.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of October 1849.
Taken prisoner of war at Balaklava, 25th October 1854.
Next-of-kin (in 1854): Mother, Mrs Arabella Armstrong, living in Drang, Co. Cavan.
Rejoined the regiment from Russian hands on the 22nd of October 1855.
A nominal roll of men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, shows him as a Prisoner under sentence of Court-martial from the 4th of November.
Extracts from Regimental records of the 4th Hussars:
Scutari, 5th November 1855.
Application for District Court-martials for the under mentioned Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 4th Light Dragoons.
No. 1 Charge
No. 1292 Corporal Joseph Armstrong of the 4th Light Dragoons for having at Balaclava absented himself when engaged with the Enemy on the 25th October 1854 and not returning till 26th October 1855 when he was exchanged...
Proceedings of a Court-martial assembled by Order of Brigadier General A.H.Storks, K.H. Commanding Troops on the Bosphorus, in accordance with the 30th Clause of the Mutiny Act.
President, Captain H.E.Reader, 12th Lancers. — Lieut. Weir, 6th Dragoons, — Lieut. Preston. 3rd Light Dragoons. — Lieut. Blunt. 12th Lancers. — Lieut. Winstanley. 4th Light Dragoons.
Scutari, 6th Novr. 1855.
The Court having assembled and been duly sworn proceeded to enquire into the cause of the absence of 1292 Corporal Joseph Armstrong of the 4th Light Dragoons taken Prisoner near Balaclava in the Crimea on or about the 25th Octr. 1854 and who did not return until the 26th Octr. 1855, when he was exchanged.
There being no evidence for the Prosecution and No. 1292 Corporal Joseph Armstrong of the 4th Light Dragoons being called upon for his statement states as follows:
"On the 25th Octr. 1854 I charged with the 4th Light Dragoons in the Action of Balaclava, and as the Regt. was returning my horse was shot under me and I was some time extricating myself from him as he lay on the ground.
As soon as I had done so I made the best of my way towards a party of my own Regt. who were passing at a gallop, but before I could reach them was surrounded by some Russian Lancers and taken prisoner.
That same evening, in Company with some other prisoners, I was conducted to the Russian Camp, and a few days after was sent into Russia about 1200 miles, where I remained until the 27th of August 1855 when I was marched to Odessa and handed over to the English Authorities.
Having been detained there about three weeks I was sent on to Balaclava and reached that place on the 26th Octr. 1855."
The Prisoner withdraws and the Court is closed.
Finding
The Court having maturely considered the statement made by the Prisoner, together with there being no evidence to adduce against him, is of the opinion that the said Prisoner No. 1292 Corporal Joseph Armstrong of the 4th Light Dragoons, was not taken prisoner by the Enemy through wilful neglect of Duty on his part, and returned as soon as regularly exchanged, and therefore recommends that the Prisoner No. 1292 Corporal Joseph Armstrong of the 4th Light Dragoons to receive the whole of such arrears of Pay as may be due to him and further that he shall be permitted to reckon Service for the period of his absence.
H.E Reader, Capt. 12th Lancers,
President.
6th Novr. 1855.
All the N.C.O.s and Men of the 4th Light Dragoons taken prisoner of war at Balaclava were court-martialled with similar charges, the findings being the same in each case. These will be found in the record of the particular individual.
Sent to England on the 15th of December 1855.
Discharged, "by purchase", from Brighton on the 21st of November 1860. Payment of £5.
Served 12 years 171 days.
Conduct and character: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.