Born at Rockbeare, near Exeter.
The parish records of Rockbeare, Devonshire, show his baptism there on the 10th of June 1834, the son of Henry and Sarah Searle. The family were then living in Little Silver. His father was a Labourer by trade.
Enlisted at Exeter on the 15th of April 1854.
No other enlistment details apart from his trade as a servant are shown. Sent to the Cavalry Depot on the 18th of April 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 14th of July 1855.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Discharged, "time expired", from Aldershot on the 14th of April 1866.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah.
Lummis and Wynn state that "he did not embark for the Crimea", but he is to be found on the Sebastopol clasp roll.