Service
Embarked from London 16th March 1839, arrived Bombay, India, 10th July 1839.
Returned to England from India aboard the "Repulse" on the 27th of March 1842, having left Bombay on the 28th of December 1841.
From Private to Corporal: 4th of January 1847.
"In confinement", 16th-18th of June 1847, and tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 19th of June 1847. He was reduced to Private, but re-instated by order of Lt. Colonel Paget. He also forfeited his Good Conduct badge.
[PB, Feb. 2015: Wendy Leahy has noted that George Balme was named in the court martial of 982 Robert Allcock, 4th Light Dragoons. Allcock face four courts-martial 1847-1852, of which this was the third.]
General Court Martial at Dublin on 03 08 1850.
Charges
First: For having, at Dublin, on or about the 22nd day of July 1850 disobeyed the lawful command of Major Halkett, 4LD, his Commanding Officer in having continued talking when at Field Drill, although repeatedly ordered not to do so.
Second: For having at Dublin on or about the 22nd day of July 1850 when a Prisoner, and proceeding to Island Bridge Barracks, disobeyed the lawful command of Corporal George Balme, 4LD, by lying down on the ground and saying, 'He would go no further until he had had rest,' and made use of highly insolent and threatening language in saying, 'He did not care a ___ for the Major or Corporal, that he would do no Drill for either of them. That he would do for them this time and that he would shoot one of them,' or words to that effect.
Third: For having at Dublin on or about the 22nd day of July 1850 been drunk.
The Prisoner pleaded Guilty to the Third Charge only.
Opinion: The Court having maturely weighed and considered the evidence in support of the Prosecution together with what the Prisoner has urged in his defence, are of opinion, with regard to the First Charge that the Prisoner, No. 982 Private Robert Allcock of the 4LD is Guilty. That with regard to the Second Charge, he, the Prisoner, is Guilty. And that with regard to the Third Charge, he, the Prisoner, is also Guilty.
Sentence: The Court Martial adjudges the Prisoner No. 982 Private Robert Allcock of the 4LD, to undergo imprisonment with Hard Labour for a period of 18 Lunar months.
The Judge Advocate General humbly submitted to Her Majesty to approve and confirm the finding and sentence of the Court.
Confirmed by the Queen on 23 08 1850.
[Source: Wendy Leahy, "Shadows of Time" website, http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoona/allcock1.html (accessed 10.2.2015).]
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 26th of December 1851 and reduced to Private.
[PB, Jan. 2015: We are very grateful to Wendy Leahy (Shadows of Time) for alerting us to a court case in 1856 in which George Balme — "a fine-looking well-dressed young man, with large bushy whiskers and moustachios" — at this time a servant of Ernest Vane Tempest, 4th Light Dragoons, was accused of theft from a woman on a train journey from Brighton to London. He was discharged and "left the court without the slightest imputation on his character".]
George Balme — unfounded charge of felony, 1856.
(Click on image to enlarge)
UNFOUNDED CHARGE OF FELONY AGAINST A SERVANT OF LORD VANE TEMPEST
Just at the close of the court on Tuesday afternoon, a fine-looking well-dressed young man, with large bushy whiskers and moustachios, named George Balme, described in the charge-sheet as a private in the 4th Dragoon Guards, and who stated himself to be servant to Lord Vane Tempest, an officer in that regiment, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with stealing a purse containing two sovereigns and 5s. from the person of Mary Angel, in a carriage on the London and Brighton Railway.
The prosecutrix said that she was a nurse, and had been some time in the service of a family at Brighton, which place she left on the previous afternoon by railway. She arrived at the Brighton terminus in a carriage with some of the family, and then she had her purse, containing two sovereigns and five shillings, which was safe in her dress pocket.
When she got into the railway carriage, the prisoner, another man, and two females got in. The prisoner sat by her side all the way, the other man opposite, and the females kept shifting about. While the train was passing Anerly, she put her hands in her pocket to look for her ticket, when she missed her purse and contents, and on arrival at the London Bridge terminus she gave the prisoner into custody.
Mr. Combe asked her the reason of giving him into custody?
Prosecutrix replied that he sat by her side all the way, and she believed no one else could have robbed her.
Police-constable 508 A said he was called to the terminus to take the prisoner into custody for stealing the purse and contents. He denied it most strenuously, and pulled everything out of his pockets. All he had in his possession were written documents, with instructions for him to transact business for his master and some of his comrades.
The prisoner, in an energetic manner, denied having committed such a disgraceful robbery. His character stood too high for him to attempt any such a thing. He was servant to Lord Vane Tempest, and had just arrived with him and that regiment from the Crimea. His lordship was staying at Brighton, and on Tuesday he sent him up to London to transact some business for hire. The papers found upon him would show that he was then going to Park-lane.
Mr. Combe asked what became of the other man and the females?
Prosecutor replied that they left the station as soon as the train arrived. Mr. Combe said, from what he had heard of the case, there was more likelihood that the robbery was committed by the females than the prisoner, who seemed to be a person holding a respectable position, and having a good character. He should discharge him, and, at the same time, he left the court without the slightest imputation on his character.
[Source: Morning Post, 31 July 1856. Identical reports appeared on the same day in the London Daily News and the Morning Chronicle, and possibly elsewhere.]