Born c.1839.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 28th of April 1849.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: None shown.
Rode in the Charge at Balaklava, 25th October 1854, and taken prisoner of war.
He was one of the only three men of the regiment who returned from Russian captivity on the 26th of October 1855. Twelve men had been taken prisoner during the battle and the others can all be presumed to have died in captivity. [See Cornet John Chadwick's letter from Karkoff, 2nd of April 1855, for a list of these men. Chadwick says that McAllister had already "gone on for his destination". This may have been "Rioizan" [Ryazan], just over 120 miles south-east of Moscow, where Chadwick was headed, or elsewhere.]
They were returned under a flag of truce from Odessa aboard the H.M.S. "Agamemnon", the rate of exchange being "twenty Russians for one Englishman." A few days after their release, all were tried by Court-martial for "being absent without leave for twelve months." but were honourably acquitted and returned to duty. In addition to drawing their balance of pay in credit for October-December 1854, they were allowed one year's ration money at 3d. halfpenny per day.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 8th of December 1855 for "being drunk and using abusive and insolent language to a superior officer." Given 50 lashes.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The muster rolls for the July-September 1858 period show him as "On Detachment at Sholapoore" during the whole of the period.
Served in action against the rebels at Zeerapore on the 29th of December 1858 and at Baroda on the 1st of January 1859.
He was granted his discharge in India (at Secunderabad) on the 1st of February 1862.
W0/25/3269 shows him as having served 12 years 166 days and his conduct and character as "good".
Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
There is no indication if he remained in India after discharge, or returned to England.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol, the Turkish medal, and the Mutiny medal without clasp.
No trace can be found of his ever attending any of the veterans' functions or of being a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society.
He was discharged in India in 1862, but there is no indication if he remained in India or returned to England.