Born at Gillingham, Kent, c.1818.
[PB: WL says "Father, John Bolton of Gillingham near Brompton Kent".
Am I right in remembering that some sources say James was born Brompton, Kent? Given the barracks located here, it seems possible he was the son of a soldier, though continued building also meant numerous construction workers lived locally too. Gillingham was a nearby village that became embraced in the urban sprawl around Chatham docks. Gillingham is now much more prominent and better-known than Brompton, but not so in the early C19.]
Enlisted at Maidstone on the 25th of March 1837.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 11".
Trade: Servant.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Returned from India aboard the "Repulse" on the 27th of March 1842, having left Bombay on the 28th of December 1841.
From Private to Corporal: 3rd of March 1846.
Confined 25th-30th of December and reduced to Private by a General Court-martial on the 31st of December 1846. [WL adds: "Sentenced reduced."]
Rank
1837: Private
1839: Private
1841: Private
1846 Private, Corporal (from Private to Corporal 03 03 1846 vice Fordham promoted, From Corporal to Private 31 12 1846 vice William Fowler)
Apr 1852: Private
1854-1855: Private
1861: Corporal
Notes
At Ordnance Hospital 15 04 1852
Stationary Quarters, Kensington 14-19 11 1852
[Source: WL: http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoonb/bolton1.html]
Taken prisoner of war at Balaclava and rejoined the regiment on the 22nd of October 1855.
(See the record of 1292, Joseph Armstrong, 4th Light Dragoons for details of the Courts-martial held on the returned prisoners of war.)
James Bolton's statement to the Court:
"I was with the 4th Light Dragoons in the Charge at the action of Balaclava on the 26th Octr. 1854. On the return of the Regt. my horse fell. I was at once surrounded and taken prisoner, being taken to the Russian camp along with some other prisoners.
We remained in Russia until the 22nd August when we were sent to Odessa and from thence to Balaclava, which we reached on the 26th Octr. 1855".
Next of kin (in 1854): Brother, John Bolton, living at Gillingham, Kent.
[PB: He was remarkably tall for a light cavalryman — 6 feet 1 1/2 inches — as was noted during his time in Russia.]
Having been captured by the Russians at the Charge:
Next morning we were allowed to walk about the prison-yard, and again had several visitors from the town. An English-speaking Russian officer came and asked us a number of questions. Some very tall men were of our party. Parkes, of ours, stood 6ft. 2in. in his stockings; Bolton, also of ours, 6ft. 1 1/2in.; Parker, of the 11th, over 6ft.; and two or three others were over 5ft. 10in. Others again, like myself, were short in stature.
So, on the second morning after arrival at Simferopol a visit was paid, among others, by a Russian hussar, who evidently thought himself a superior being. He was in full dress, with sword, sabretache, boots, and spurs, and strutted about like a peacock, contemptuously regarding us small men from his own superior altitude of about 5ft. 9in. Presently Parkes, Bolton, and Parker, who had been taking the air in the prison-yard entered the apartment, and our Muscovite swell having observed their appearance, turned to the English-speaking officer, who asked Parkes what men these were.
"Light dragoons," replied Parkes.
"Light dragoons!" exclaimed the astonished officer; "what like, then, are your heavy dragoons?" The laugh of course was turned against the visitor, who took himself off.
[Source: Robert Farquharson's Reminiscences, p. 59.]
He married Elizabeth Pope, the widow of 815, Richard Pope, 4th Light Dragoons who had died in the Crimea.
Marriage registration
In December 1856, James Bolton married Elizabeth Pope, the widow of 815 Richard Pope 4th Light Dragoons at Steyning [14 miles NE of Brighton] [2b 409]. Pope died in September 1854.
[WL]
From Private to Corporal: 1st of October 1857.
Discharged from Dublin on the 6th of May 1861.
"Own request, after 24 years' service. Has scar on right arm."
[PB, 10.9.2018: I notice his pension admission document is available on the Fold3 site here. The image above was provided by WL.]
Served 24 years 37 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months
In India: 4 years.
Aged 43 years. Conduct and character: "a good soldier".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges. Once tried by Court-martial.
Intended to live at 17, Commercial Road East, London, after discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with three clasps.
Awarded a pension of 1/3d. per day.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879. Named as "J. Boulton."
[PB: He became Sergeant-Major Equestrian Instructor in the Yorkshire Hussars, and had at least two children with Elizabeth: John, born Coventry c.1859, and James, born Dublin c.1861.]
[PB: This image was found on a genealogy website by WL in 2018. However there is an earlier version in the EJBA. NB. Find and use the EJBA version.]
The uniform he wears in the photograph (See copy of this in the 4th Hussar file) is that of the Yorkshire Hussars, a Yeomanry Cavalry unit in which he had served as a Sergeant-Major Equestrian Instructor.
Died at York on the 15th of April 1879, aged 60 years, and was buried in the "Military Cemetery" there. (See photograph of his unmarked grave-area, in the 4th Hussar file.)
The York Cemetery records show that he was interred in that cemetery on the 18th of April 1879, in Grave No. 12803. Other details given are as already known, with the exception that his occupation was merely shown as "Pensioner," and his death as being reported by Jas. Hicks, of Fulford.
From his death certificate:
Died April 15th 1879, aged 60 years, at Gate Fulford (East Riding) in Walmgate Sub-Division. Cause of death, "Phthisis." Registered on the 17th of April by William Spence, 10 Regent Square, Barker Hill, York.
The "Deaths" column of the York Herald records "James Bolton, 4th Dragoon Guards [sic] died April 15th 1879, aged 60 years."
From the York Herald, 18th of April 1879:
Death of a Balaclava Veteran. "Mr. James Bolton, who, whilst with the 4th Light Light Dragoons, took part in the celebrated Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava has just died at Fulford in his 76th year [sic]."
There is a discrepancy in his age, but that shown on his death certificate must be taken as the correct one. (See also copy of his obituary card in the 4th Hussar file.)
James Bolton is also referred to in an affidavit in Cardigan-Calthorpe, quoted briefly (and critically) in Cardigan's pamphlet:
NB. NOT PROOFREAD
AFFIDAVIT of THOMAS KING, now Private of D. Troop of 4th Hussars, now stationed at Newbridge, Ireland. Sworn 29" May, I863; filed 2nd June 1863.
SAY as follows:
1. I remember the charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade at Balaklava, on 25th October, 1854. The 4th Light Dragoons attacked the Russian guns while they were being carried off by the Russians. I saw several drivers and gunners killed by the 4th, and took part myself in the action.
2. I remember seeing Lord George Paget and Colonel Douglas of the 11th Hussars talking. I heard Lord George Paget say, "Rally, men, and let us see what we can do. " Lord George Paget brought us three times to the front, and I heard several say, "Let us rally to the rear of the 17th," for we then thought the Russians were the 17th. Lord George was then in command, and we formed as best we could and retreated.
3. I did not see Lord Cardigan during the entire of that day. I was taken prisoner while retreating. While a prisoner a Russian general, who i have always understood was General Liprandl, asked the prisoners whether they had been served with brandy before the charge, and he said when he saw us advancing he thought we were only the advance guard. He also asked us who was the officer on the chesnut [PB: sic?] horse with white heels who was galloping back when the second line were going down. Several of the prisoners, including Parks, Bolton, and others, told him it was Lord Cardigan. I did not know what kind of horse he was on. I did not see Lord Cardigan except previous to starting.