Born in the parish of All Hallow's, Exeter.
(The GRI index however shows that he was baptised at St. Olave's Church on the 9th of June 1822, the son of John and Hannah Ockford.)
Enlisted at Exeter on the 19th of December 1843.
Age: 20 years 6 months.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Carpenter.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
At the Riding Establishment at Maidstone from the 10th of November 1846 until the 5th of June 1847.
From Private to Corporal: 7th of December 1848.
Corporal to Sergeant: 10th of July 1854.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 25th of October 1854.
Promoted to Quarter-Master Sergeant: 1st of August 1860.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 21st of January 1868.
"Own request, free to pension, after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 34 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "very good". Had two Good Conduct badges when promoted and would now have had five.
Aged 44 years 7 months on discharge.
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial.
To live at East Stratton, Hampshire.
Discharged as Sergeant in the Hants. Yeomanry Cavalry after serving from the 21st of January 1868 to the 6th of February 1883 "at his own request, being over 55 years of age".
He had served on the Permanent Staff of the Hampshire Yeomanry for 14 years 321 days, making a total of 39 years 37 days' service. Aged 59 years 6 months when discharged from the Yeomanry.
His pension had been 2/3d per day, but this was increased to 3/4d on his second discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
According to 1327 Private Thomas Heron, Samuel Ockford was on Guard Duty on the 25th of October 1854 and did not take part in the Charge.
He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 22nd of March 1862, with a gratuity of £5.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps, the Turkish and the Long Service medal with a gratuity of £5.
1881 Census
He was still living at East Stratton in 1881, then being shown as 58 years of age, a Permanent Sergeant in the Hants (Vol) Yeomanry Cavalry, with his wife, Annie, aged 51, and two daughters, Mary B. aged 17, a Pupil Teacher, born in Ireland, and Frances, aged 14, a scholar, and born at East Stratton.