Born at Mortlake, Surrey, where he was christened on the 9th of January 1826, the son of John and Keziah Buck.
High Street, Mortlake.
Kezia Buck, 45.
Four children shown: Henry 20, James 15, Mary 10, and Ann 8.
Enlisted into the 3rd Light Dragoons for "unlimited service", 26th of January 1846. Regimental No. 1808.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Labourer.
Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Auburn hair.
Transferred to the 17th Lancers on the 1st of July 1853.
During his return from the Charge a bullet passed through his whiskers, and saying, "I have been shot," he put his hand to his cheek, then said, "No, I am not. But it is close shaving."
[PB: source?]
At Scutari Depot from the 30th of October and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 10th of November 1854.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of October 1855.
Corporal to Sergeant: 7th of September 1857.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain", 8th of October 1857.
Served during the whole of the campaign in the Punjab, and up to the occupation of Peshawar.
The muster rolls for the period July-September 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" from September.
Served in action against the rebels at Zeerapore, 29th of December 1858, and at Baroda, 1st of January 1859.
Discharged from Hamilton, Scotland, on the 16th of February 1870, "Free to pension, after 24 years service."
Served 24 years 20 days. Served abroad: 15 years 3 months. In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years. East Indies: 13 years 3 months.
Conduct: "very good". In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Awarded a pension of 2/- per day.
Pension details to the 18th of January 1898 when his papers were returned to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Punjab medal with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 6th of April 1867 with a gratuity of £10.
A request was sent from the War Office to the East India Company's medallists for a replacement Indian Mutiny medal to be issued to him "at his own expense, (7/6d.)". This was sent to the regiment on the 12th of December 1866.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Attended the Annual Dinners in 1895 and 1897 and was also present at the Jubilee celebrations given by T.H. Roberts at his Fleet Street offices in June 1897.
1871 Census
10 Church Path, Gillingham.
James Buck, 45, Assistant Warder Convict Prison, born Mortlake.
Alice, 48, born Ellenborough.
Intended place of residence 16, Broad Street, Brighton, but he was living in the Portsmouth District in 1875, and at Duncan Terrace, Southsea, Hants, in the 1890s.
1881 Census
47, Duncan Road, Portsea.
Then aged 55, he was shown as an Out Pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, born at Mortlake, Surrey, living with his wife Alice, aged 59, born in Ellenborough, Buckinghamshire, and two lodgers.
1891 Census
47, Duncan Road, Portsea.
James Buck, 65, Army Pensioner, born Mortlake, Surrey.
Alice, 69, born Wendover, Bucks.
Also a lodger.
1901 Census
47, Duncan Road, Portsea.
Alice Buck, 80, widow, living on own means, born Wendover, Bucks.
Jane, 78, single, sister in law, born Mortlake, Surrey.
He died at 47, Duncan Terrace, Duncan Road, Southsea, on the 1st of January 1898.
Deaths registered
James Buck, aged 72 years, March Quarter 1898, Portsea.
Alice Buck [wife], aged 81 years, December Quarter 1902, Portsmouth.
Jane Buck, [sister], aged 93 years, December Quarter 1916, Portsmouth.
In his will he left his personal estate of £94 to his widow, Alice.
Extract from the Army and Navy Gazette, January 1898:
"Sergeant James Buck passed away at Southsea in January of 1898 in his 72nd year. He was a native of Mortlake, Surrey, joining the 3rd Light Dragoons in 1846, and serving with them until 1853 when he transferred as a volunteer to the 17th Lancers. He was wounded in the charge of the Light Brigade, but later recovered to take part in the operations before Sebastopol. He also served in the Indian Mutiny, leaving the service in 1869."
Extract from the Hampshire Post, 7th of January 1898:
"Another Balaclava Hero Dead. — Another of the Balaclava heroes has just died in the person of Sergeant J.W. Buck, late of the 17th Lancers. He had joined the 3rd Light Dragoons in 1846 when the regiment was in the Sikh wars, taking part in several engagements and returning to England in 1853. On the outbreak of the Russian War he was transferred to the 17th Lancers, with whom he served at Alma and Balaclava, where he was wounded in the famous charge, but recovered in time to take part in the final operations against Sebastopol. He served again during the Mutiny and left the service in 1869. The funeral service on Tuesday was of a private character, but four colour-sergeants of the Shropshire Light Infantry, attended by order of General Davies, commanding the Southern District."
He was buried in the Highland Road Cemetery, Eastney, Portsmouth, in Grave No. C.S. 65. According to the cemetery records a headstone was erected. Also interred in the same grave was a Jane Buck (presumably his sister) on the 15th of December 1916, aged 93 years.
The memorial stone to him in Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, reads:
"In loving memory of James Buck, who died 1st January 1898, aged 72 years. Resting in the arms of Jesus. Also Alice, wife of the above, who died December 21st 1902, aged 81 years. Also of Jane Buck, who died December 10th 1916, aged 93 years."
(There is a photograph of this gravestone in the 17th Lancer file.)
Death registrations and Census information for 1841, 1871, 1891 & 1901 kindly provided by Chris Poole.