Bussicott
 

 
 

PROCEEDINGS OF A REGIMENTAL BOARD

HELD ON 29TH NOVEMBER 1853 IN GIBRALTAR



This reports on the details of Private John Bussicott  No.1797 and confirms his service as 
12 years 299 days.

This is made up of
31st December 1840 to 7th November 1849 8 years 311 days

Absent without leave 7th November 1849 confined and sentenced to 30 days unpaid with hard labour

 Nil days
12th December 1849 to 29th November 1853 3 years 353 day
Total    12 years 299 days

Of this time it is noted how much time he served Abroad being a total of 5 years 11 months being:

In China 2 years and 8 months

In Gibraltar

 3 years and 3 months

(Ireland was not considered abroad at that time of course as part of Britain) 


At the end of this document a Further Service of 244 days being the period from 30th November until 31st July 1854 is recorded, which is the date he was finally discharged, giving a total service of 13 years and 178 days.   

The Discharge was proposed in consequence of “ Unfitness for further Service in Authority dated Town Mayor’s Office Gibraltar 17th November 1853¨ 

With regard to the Character and Conduct of Private John Bussicott the Board have to report that upon reference to the Defaulter’s Book and by the Parole testimony that has been given it appears that “  he was tried by a regimental court martial on 12th November 1849 at Dublin for absence without leave and making away with ?? (his boots and shirt) of which he was convicted and sentenced to 30 days imprisonment and stoppages which was inflicted. 

His character and conduct have been highly irregular and not to be sober. 

He served in the Expedition to China and was present at the storming and capture of Ching Kiang Foo on the 21st July 1842 where he distinguished himself and was severely wounded and for which service he received a medal but which however he has not won over the Board. 

The above was the main Report but when he returned to the UK there were medical reports and as noted earlier this extra time was added to his army service records. 

According to the original Medical Report on 4th July 1854 it says “ Private John Bussicott at 35 years 1 month, after service of 12 years 8 months of which 2 years 8 months in China, 3 years and 3 months in Gibraltar and the remainder at Home. Suffers from Chronic Rheumatism of long standing and Cardiac Disease attributable to cold and for which his first admission to that station was in August 1851. His disease has not been aggravated in ?? or ?? critical’ Had been 322 days in Hospital since in the last two years and a half. The Disease of the Heart and perpetual Rheumatism ?? ??? for Stability Duty ? labourer. 

This was added to by the Principal Medical Officer on 4th July 1854. Private J Bussicott  was this day examined for Medical Board of which I was President and found unfit for further Service in consequence of Chronic Rheumatism. 

The Discharge was then approved the General Commanding of the regiment. 

However another piece of paper was attached dated 24th June 1854 “ was struck by a Musket Ball near the top and front of the right shoulder, lodging there in the flesh that had to be extracted by the surgeon of the Regiment in an hour afterwards and the mark of its entrance and exit are ? 

So how long was that there? 

His final description was he was aged 36 and 11 months, was 5 feet 5 ¾ inches tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion with a trade as a labourer.