Born at Liverpool, c.1836.
1851 Census
Address — Tempest Key, Liverpool?
He appears on the 1851 Census as the son of James and Martha Gelling of Tempest Key, Liverpool. His father is listed as a HM Customs Officer, and James himself as a Cooper's Apprentice. [RM]
Enlisted at Liverpool on the 3rd of October 1854.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 5".
Trade: Cooper.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 28th of April 1855.
Transferred to the 4th Bn. of the Military Train on the 13th of October 1856. Regimental No. 541.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of December 1856.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of December 1857.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 11th of January 1860 but reverted to Sergeant "at his own request" on the 14th of February 1861.
Transferred to the 2nd Bn. on the 23rd of October 1861 and back to the 4th Bn. on the 1st of November 1861.
Served in the New Zealand campaign from the 14th of January 1866 — 1st of June 1867.
Discharged, "time expired", at Auckland, New Zealand, on the 9th of June 1867.
There is no indication if he remained in New Zealand or returned to England. The regiment embarked aboard the "Countess Russell" (Master, Mr. Penfold) on the 25th of June 1867 and reaching England on the 8th of October of that same year. A number of men deserted before embarkation.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Second China War medal with clasp for Taku Forts, 1869.
New Zealand medal, 1865-66.