Born in the parish of St. Michael's, Dublin, c.1828. (Another source states that it was in the parish of St. Meahan's, Dublin.)
Enlisted at Dublin on the 6th of February 1847.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Smith.
Florid complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Tried and imprisoned by Regimental Court-martial from the 29th of December 1849 — 26th of February 1850 and again from the 14th of February — 15th of March 1852.
Sent to Scutari on the 29th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 24th of November 1854.
Lummis and Wynn state that he died at Scutari on the 5th of December 1854, but this was not so.
In his account of the Charge which appeared in the Royal Magazine (Vol.XIII) under the heading of "Survivor's Tales of Great Events," 1460 James H. Herbert of the 4th L.D., said in response to a question,
"I do not remember the case of the butcher of the 17th Lancers who, as you say, joined his regiment fresh from the shambles, and rode through the charge with his pole-axe; but I can tell you of a case as amazing in its way, and one which shows the brutal discipline of the Crimean period.
There was a man of our regiment named Fox. When the order of advance was given he was on duty in the camp. He rushed to his horse, rode in the Charge, and came safely back. And to what? The cat! He was soon court-martialled for leaving his post without orders and sentenced to receive fifty lashes.
The remnant of the 4th were paraded for the degrading and monstrous punishment, and Fox was tied to the wheel of a forge-cart. One of the farmers took a cat-o'-nine-tails and gave him twenty-five strokes. At that time, when flogging was in vogue in the Army, one man never gave more than twenty-five lashes, then a new man and a fresh cat was obtained.
When half the punishment had been given, the Colonel said, "Hold! I will forgive you the other twenty-five." Fox, who was an Irishman, answered, "Oh, don't. Please, Colonel. I don't want to be beholden to you for anything. I will take the other twenty-five." The Colonel said sternly; "Silence, Sir," and had him marched off to the hospital marquee. The balance was never given. Fox was a desperate character, and a rough customer to deal with, it is true; but he was a fine soldier, and considering what he had gone through, his punishment was out of all proportion to his crime..."
(Nothing is shown on his documents for any court-martial or punishment for this particular offence, unless there is confusion with the offence for which he was court-martialled in May of 1855.)
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial for "absconding with a Troop horse and returning drunk" on the 26th of May 1855. Awarded 50 lashes, of which 25 were remitted.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial for "Insolence to a superior officer" on the 5th of October 1855. Awarded, and given, 25 lashes.
A nominal roll of men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, shows him as being On Duty there from the 4th of November.
Tried by Court-martial at Brighton on the 10th of March 1857 for "Drunkenness, and using abusive language". Sentenced to 84 days' imprisonment and given 50 lashes.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Manchester on the 29th of September 1859 for "Disgraceful conduct and awarded 112 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.
Embarked for India aboard the "Serapia" at Portsmouth on the 15th of October 1867.
Invalided to England for "Discharge" on the 12th of January 1871.
(He had been brought before the Invaliding Board at Meerut on the 25th of November 1868 and recommended to proceed to England, via Bombay.)
Discharged from Canterbury on the 16th of September 1872.
"Free, at own request, after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 226 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months
In India: 3 years 3 months.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Forty-three times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Six times tried by Court-martial.
Granted a pension of 13d. per day.
To live at Manchester.
Next of kin: Wife, Margaret, who is shown on the Regimental "Married Roll" from the 10th of July 1861.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
He is named on some medal rolls as "Charles" Fox.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.