Born at Watford, Hertfordshire, c.1837.
1841 Census
The Town, Watford.
John Graves, 4, and his sister Mary, 6, are shown as children of William, 31, Hairdresser.
1851 Census
High Street, Watford.
John Graves, 13, Scholar Musician.
Enlisted at Westminster on the 5th of July 1854.
Age: 17 years 10 months, Height, 5' 9".
Trade: Musician.
Fair complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 3rd of August 1855.
Transferred to the 17th Lancers on the 1st of September 1857. Regimental No. 92.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857,
From Private to Corporal: 1st of December 1860.
Allowed to revert to Private, "at his own request", on the 2nd of December 1862.
From Private to Sergeant [sic]: 4th of December 1865.
Re-engaged for 12 years' further service at Aldershot on the 7th of September 1866.
Discharged from Longford, Ireland, on the 20th of February 1872, as:
Unfit for further military service — Has chronic rheumatism — originated in India in 1862 and probably of syphilitic origin. He suffers severe aching pain in all his limbs and cannot walk very far in consequence. It is very difficult to see if he will ever recover fully, It will but slightly affect his trade as a musician and his ability to earn his own living.
Served 17 years 88 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 11 months. India, 7 years 1 month.
Conduct and character: "very good."
In possession of two Good Conduct badges when promoted and would now have had five.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
The muster rolls for July-Sptember 1858 show no actual Field Service movements.
Can find no trace on the Mutiny medal roll.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
Census information for 1841 and 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.