Born c.1835 at Henfield, near Poynings, Sussex, and christened there on the 7th of July 1835, the son of Thomas Gumbrill and his wife, Sarah.
Enlisted at Brighton on the 18th of December 1854.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Carpenter.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
A nominal roll of men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, on the 9th of November 1855 shows him as being On Duty there from the 24th of October.
Volunteered into the 3rd Dragoon Guards at Brighton on the 1st of March 1857. Regimental No. 307.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned 27th of October — 27th of December 1863.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned 4th — 24th of May 1867. Re-engaged, and transferred to the 21st Hussars on the 12th of September 1867. Regimental No. 867.
Discharged from Aldershot on the 2nd of December 1874.
"Unfit for further service. Has chronic rheumatism. — arms and legs now almost useless. Broken down in health — he will never be fit for hard work. Disease incurred by military service, and not aggravated by vice or intemperance."
Served 19 years 1 month (of which 3 months were disallowed, no reason being given.)
In Turkey and the Crimea: 11 months
In India: 14 years 11 months.
Conduct and character: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Twice tried by Court-martial
Awarded a pension of 9d. per day on discharge, but this was increased to 11d. per day on the 19th of February 1903 and further increased to 18d. on the 25th of June 1903.
Aged 38 years 11 months on discharge.
To live at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
1881 Census
The 1881 Census shows him as living in Henry Road, Gratwick, Sussex, as a Lodger in the home of James Woolvin, a Carpenter. He was then unmarried, a Bricklayer's Labourer, 45, born at Henfield, Sussex.
"A Medical Board sat at Brighton on the 6th of February 1903. Findings. — Disease was due to long and tropical service. An old man, 67 years of age, and completely unable to do any work. He states he has been earning 15/- a week as a labourer for the Urban Council at Burgess Hill since the last year, but I should think this was an act of charity..."