Born at Heston, Middlesex.
Enlisted at Brighton on the 2nd of March 1846.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Armourer.
Features: Sallow complexion. Hazel eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Went to Enfield to qualify as an Armourer on the 28th of February 1847.
From Private to Armourer Sergeant: 1st of May 1847.
EJB: It is interesting to note that he became Armourer Sergeant vice No. 31 James Tuffin upon the latter's retirement to pension. He was most probably No. 31 James Tuffin's son. See below.
Placed in "close confinement" at Devna Camp for "being drunk". He was tried and reduced to Private, but was re-instated by "order of the Commanding Officer".
At Scutari 24th of December 1854 - 24th of May 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 10th of May 1855 and reduced to Private for "drunkenness".
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 12th of October 1855 for "Absence". Given 50 lashes, awarded a stoppage of 1d. per day for three months and to be imprisoned for 20 days, with hard labour.
Tried by a District Court-martial on the 18th of January 1856 for "habitual drunkenness." Given 50 lashes and awarded stoppage of 1d. per day for six months.
Discharged, "to pension", [sic] from Dublin on the 13th of April 1857, as:
"Not likely to become an efficient soldier and on the Reduction of the Regiment. Is of a bad and delicate constitution. Bears marks of flogging. This soldier is constantly in hospital with venereal disease, no sooner out than he returns with a fresh complaint. Disease is aggravated by his intemperance. Conduct in hospital- Good."
Served 10 years 345 days, to count. He had lost a total of 43 days' pay during his service.
Conduct and character: "very bad". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Next of kin (1854): a wife, Elizabeth Tuffin, to whom he sent money from the Crimea. She was living in Lowndes Square, London.
Transferred from the Salisbury Pension District to the West London District on the 31st of March 1858. His pension of 6d. per day was paid from the 24th of April 1857 to the 8th of November 1858.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
According to the GRO Army Chaplains' Registers a "James Tuffin" was born into the 17th Lancers in 1828. Two other children of the same surname are shown. James G., born at Hounslow in 1849, and William, born at Hounslow in 1853. These last two could well have been the children of 805 James Tuffin and his wife Elizabeth. From his age, and although ranking as a Sergeant at the time, he had probably married "without permission".
No. 31 Armourer Sergeant James Tuffin was born at Blandford, Dorset, and enlisted at London into the 17th Lancers on the 18th of January 1821 at the age of 24 years. Promoted from Private to Armourer Sergeant on the 14th of December 1823 (his original trade is shown as Black-smith). Discharged from Dublin on the 20th of April 1849 after 28 years 294 days service (all being "At Home"):
"Being unfit for further service, as shown by the subjoined medical certificate. His strength and activity are so much impaired that he is unable to follow the ordinary duties of a dragoon and his sight has become so much impaired that he has become incapacitated for the duties of an Armourer. His impaired sight has not been caused by opthalma, but is the result of the debility of the organs from age and great application at the trade and the disability has been solely caused by his military duties and is not the result of indulgence in the use of intoxicating liquor or other vices. The veins of his left leg are very much impaired and varicosed." Is 52 years 3 months of age. His conduct has been "very good", and he has a medal for Long Service and Good Conduct. To reside at the Tower of London."
This confirms the fact of his having been a Yeoman Warder at the Tower, as a James Tuffin became a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London on the 8th of May 1849 and died on the 16th of December 1856. He may have been the No. 31 James Tuffin previously referred to, though no regimental service is shown. A news-item in the Army and Navy Gazette (of an unknown date) recorded the death of a James Tuffin, a Yeoman Warder, late of the 9th Lancers [sic] at the Tower of London.