Born in Shoreditch, London.
Enlisted at Westminster on the 24th of October 1853.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Labourer.
Sent to the Cavalry Depot on the 19th of April 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 29th of April 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Shown as "alias Simpson" from the 1st of April 1860.
Allowed to revert to his real name of "Richard Simpson" from the 1st of July 1860.
On "Escort duty" at Portsmouth 1st-20th of January 1861, attached to the Military Train.
Discharged, "time expired", from Aldershot on the 20th of January 1866.
Served 12 years 45 days.
Conduct and character: "Bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Lummis and Wynn state that he "Did not serve in the Crimea", but he is to be found on the Sebastopol clasp roll.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.