Born c.1819 at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, and baptised there on the 18th of June 1819, the son of James Donaldson and his wife, Elizabeth.
Enlisted at London on the 25th of October 1838.
Trade: Tailor.
No other enlistment details are shown.
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 1st of December 1838 (no charge shown) and sentenced to "forfeit all past and future service".
Returned to England aboard the "Mary" on the 12th of April 1842, having left Bombay on the 13th of December 1841.
[Wendy Leahy adds info.]
DESERTIONS: 15 11 1838 to 25 11 1838 when returned from desertion
03 08 1845 Hounslow
COURT MARTIALS: At Dublin, 08 12 1846, for desertion and losing necessaries. Sentenced to 2 months HL and stoppages
Military confinement 05 04 1847. Tried by Regimental court martial 07 04 1847. Sentenced 20 days imprisonment.
To Barrack cells 09 04 1847 and released 26 04 1847.
Killed in action at Balaclava.
Next of kin: Wife, Elizabeth Donaldson, living in Longford, Ireland.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol.
Killed in action at Balaclava.
Next of kin: Wife, Elizabeth Donaldson, living in Longford, Ireland.
p>SURNAME: DonaldsonFORENAMES: James
BORN: Buckingham
OCCUPATION: Tailor
REGIMENT NO: 961
ENLISTED: 25 10 1838 London
ATTESTED: 06 11 1838
RANK: 1838: Private
1839: Private
1841: Private
1845: Private
1846: Private
1854: Private
DESERTIONS: 15 11 1838 to 25 11 1838 when returned from desertion
03 08 1845 Hounslow
COURT MARTIALS: At Dublin, 08 12 1846, for desertion and losing necessaries. Sentenced to 2 months HL and stoppages
Military confinement 05 04 1847. Tried by Regimental court martial 07 04 1847. Sentenced 20 days imprisonment.
To Barrack cells 09 04 1847 and released 26 04 1847.
MEDALS: Crimea: Alma, Balaklava. List dated 07 01 1855
EMBARKATIONS: 16 03 1839 England
10 11 1841 Mary Bombay India
DISEMBARKATIONS: 10 07 1839 Bombay India
12 03 1842 Mary Gravesend England
DIED: 25 10 1854 Balaklava, killed in the Charge
WILL: 8s 10d
NEXT OF KIN: Wife Eliza Donaldson, of Longford Ireland
1st WIFE: Eliza
NOTES: Residing in Longford Ireland 1854
TNA SOURCES: WO/12/648-649
WO/12/651
WO/12/654
WO/12/655
WO/12/659
WO/86/5
WO/180/24