Enlisted at London on the 11th of November 1841.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: None shown.
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 17th of December 1855 for "Habitual drunkenness". Given 50 lashes and awarded stoppage of 1d. per day for 30 days.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The musters for July-September 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" from September 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.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Kirkee on the 31st of March 1858 for "Habitual drunkenness", and sentenced to 48 days imprisonment, with hard labour.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Morar, India, on the 1st of June 1858 for being "Asleep on sentry". Sentenced to 4 calendar months imprisonment.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Phool Bagh, India, on the 17th of October 1858 for being "Drunk on duty and "Offering violence. " Given 50 lashes.
On passage to England from the 14th of April 1860, and being at the Maidstone Depot Roll from the 5th of September 1860.
Discharged from Maidstone on the 12th of September 1860:
"Granted a free discharge, with right of registry for a deferred pension of 4d. per day upon reaching the age of 50 years."
To live in London on discharge.
Served 18 years 22 days.
Conduct: "Bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 and 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
Named as Travis or Travers on several different rolls. Shown as Travers on the 1879 Balaclava Society membership list and signed his name as "William Travers" on the Loyal Address.
In an Address and Account Book formerly belonging to James W. Wightman when he was Secretary of the Balaclava Society, his address was given as No. 7 Tranquil Place, Albert Street, Kingsland Gate, London. His name was crossed through on the membership list as if "Deceased", but there is no indication as to just when.
Further information about WT's membership of the Balaclava Commemoration Society kindly provided by Chris Poole.