Born in Camberwell, London.
Enlisted at London on the 6th of July 1854.
No other enlistment details apart from his trade as a labourer are shown.
Is believed to have been the brother of 1699 William Compton, who enlisted on the same day.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
From Private to Corporal 5th of January 1858.
"Deserted" from Aldershot on the 1st of July 1858. Shown as "Struck off" from the 31st of July 1858.
Can find no further trace to March of 1865.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
[RM: Nothing conclusively him in any Census records]
In her book "The Brudenells of Deene" by Joan Wake, published in 1953, she tells of when, sometime before the turn of the century, Lady Adeline Cardigan sent a photograph of a painting herself and a James Compton, both on horseback, to Benjamin Disraeli. The latter was, she explained, "An old groom of Lord Cardigan who has [sic] lived 40 years in his service and is a good pilot across country." The book also stated that "His groom, James Compton had, as we have seen, fought with him at Balaclava, and that "Mrs Prince (Compton's daughter) wrote; "My father thought that the Earl was a wonderful man, and I expect he was in those days, but I believe he could be very fiery at times."
Lummis and Wynn also state that "he was coachman to Lord Cardigan for many years", But with his military record this seems doubtful.