Enlisted at London on the 21st of June 1854.
No other enlistment details are shown.
A letter was sent from Horse Guards to the Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depot at Brighton on the 17th of February 1855:
"Sir, I am directed to intimate to you that under the circumstances stated, the Commander-in-Chief approves of Private James Buckingham of the 17th Lancers being permitted to enter upon his duty without trial after receiving a suitable admonition as to his future conduct."
It is not known what offence he had committed.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea from Brighton on the 20th of June 1855.
At Scutari General Hospital, 4th of October — 20th of December 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain", 8th of October 1857.
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 on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
The India Office records show he died of "Hepatitis" at Secunderbad on the 28th of April 1862 and was buried on the same day by the Revd. Thomas Pratt, Chaplain.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.