Born in London.
Enlisted at London on the 9th of April 1855.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 1st of August 1855.
Sent to Scutari on the 10th of October, and rejoined the regiment on the 31st of October 1855.
He is named as "Saffield" on a nominal roll of officers and men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, as being In Hospital there from the 4th of November.
From this he did not serve with the regiment in Eupatoria.
Rejoined the regiment: 31st of October 1855.
To Canada: date?
Sent to England from Toronto, Canada, on the 6th of September 1867.
Died "At Sea" on the voyage home from Canada on the 16th of September 1867.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
The muster roll states: "Two medals sent to next of kin."
The Returned Medal book shows his Crimean and Turkish were medals returned to the Mint. No trace of issue.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
Died "At Sea" on the voyage home from Canada on the 16th of September 1867.
Next of kin: Mother, Fanny Saffhill, living in Islington, London.
[PB/CP]
Attempts to locate John Saffield in censuses have so far been fruitless. It appeared that the following could have been him (note the proximity to Heston/Hounslow Barracks), but this now seems impossible since a John Saffhill, born Hounslow, appears (as a policeman) in the 1871 Census in Banstead, Surrey, and, from 1881 onwards, back in Heston.
1851 Census
Wellington Lane, Heston, Middlesex.
John Saffhill, aged 14, Agricultural Labourer, lived with 3 siblings: William, 16, Mary, 9, and Arthur, 7. Their father, William, 45, was an Agricultural Labourer and a widower. Three other relatives are also shown.