Born at Ilfracombe, Devonshire, and was baptised there on the 9th of June 1835, the son of Stephen Shairp and his wife, Ann Amanda.
Enlisted at Exeter into the 3rd Light Dragoons on the 4th of March 1854. Regimental No. 2144.
Age: 19.
Height: 6' 0".
Trade: Clerk.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes, Brown hair.
Promoted to Corporal and transferred to the 4th Light Dragoons on the 10th of March 1855 — by Authority of the Horse Guards, dated the 2nd of March 1855.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 20th of June 1855.
Sent to the General Depot at Scutari on the 10th of October 1855 and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 1st of November.
From Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of October 1857.
Transferred to the 21st Hussars on the 30th of April 1863. Regimental No. 745.
Re-engaged at Maidstone for 12 years further service in the 4th of March 1864.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 7th of February 1865.
Reverted to Sergeant on the 29th of September 1866.
Transferred to the Un-attached List and employed in the A.A.G.'s Office in Simla, India.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 29th of August 1872.
"Confined" 21st of August — 9th of September 1872 and tried by a District Court-martial for "Disgraceful conduct." Reduced to Pte., sentenced to 168 days imprisonment with hard labour and to forfeit his good-conduct medal. (He is not shown on the roll as having been awarded the L.S. and G.C medal, so it can only be assumed that this "forfeiture" was against any possible future award.)
Promoted to L/Corporal on the 1st of February 1878.
To Corporal on the 12th of February 1878.
Appointed to Orderly Room Clerk (as Sergeant) on the 1st of October 1878.
Reverted to Duty Corporal on the 16th of December 1879.
Discharged from Leeds on the 30th of January 1880.
"Claimed, on termination of second period of limited engagement."
Served 25 years 186 days. In Turkey and the Crimea 322 days.
India, 4 years 167 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Aged 44 years on discharge.
To live at No. 5 Lower Terrace, Torquay, Devon.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with one clasp, and the T.M.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.