Born c.1835 at Gravesend, Kent, and baptised in St. George's Church on the 23rd of October 1836, the son of William Fane and his wife Elizabeth.
Enlisted at London on the 8th of May 1854.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Servant.
Features: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Brown hair.
Sent to the Crimea on the 28th of May and joined the regiment on the 20th of June 1855.
He was at the General Depot, Scutari, from the 31st of October 1855 and rejoined the regiment on the 20th of November 1855.
He is shown on a nominal roll of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as being On Duty there from the 4th of November.
Transferred to the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Dublin on the 1st of March 1857. Regimental No. 251.
Embarked for India aboard the "Forerunner" on the 4th of August 1857.
From Private to Corporal: 28th of May 1858.
Corporal to Sergeant: 5th of August 1858.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 22nd of April 1861.
Promoted to Quarter-Master Sergeant at the Canterbury Depot on the 23rd of November 1862.
Reduced to Troop Sergeant Major at the Cavalry Depot: 1st of May 1865.
Re-engaged at Canterbury Depot for a further 12 years' service: 22nd of November 1865.
Discharged, "invalided", from Canterbury on the 20th of April 1870, as:
"Found unfit for further service from hepatitis. Was invalided from India on account of his present disability. Has present enlargement of the liver and debility consequent upon the irregular action of that organ. His condition will probably prevent his further powers of contributing to his own support and will be permanent. Possibly caused by conditions in tropical climates."
Served 15 years 337 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 10 months.
India: 4 years 6 months.
Conduct: "very good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges when promoted but would now have had five.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Intending to live at 31, Bradley Street, Covent Garden, London, after discharge.
1881 Census
Block 39 to 69, Chapter Road, Newington, London.
The 1881 Census shows him as a Clerk, Criminal Registry, Home Office, aged 44, born in Gravesend, Kent, with his wife, Mary M. aged 43, born at Wycombe, Bucks, and four children (1 son and three daughters), aged from 14 to 4 years.
1891 Census
47, Chapter Road, Newington, London.
Mary Fane, 55, Widow, living on own means, born Aylesbury.
Three children shown: Sidney, 21, Annie, 14, Harry, 5.
William Fane, 50, September Quarter 1887, St Saviour.
Registration of death, and Census information for 1891, kindly provided by Chris Poole.