Studio portrait of 2829 Sergeant Major (Sgt Maj) James John Heath, Ballarat Volunteer Regiment, ...

Studio portrait of 2829 Sergeant Major (Sgt Maj) James John Heath, Ballarat Volunteer Regiment, wearing full dress uniform and two Crimea Medals. A native of Staffordshire, Heath enlisted in the British Army on 22 April 1837. He participated in the Battle of Inkermann and the siege of Sevastopol (Sebastopol) during his service in the Crimean War of 1854-1856. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant during this time for good conduct and affection for duty. He was discharged from full time service after the war and was employed in the service of the Victoria London Docks Company for nearly three years, during which time he acted as a Drill Sergeant in 2 Battalion of 5th Essex Rifle Volunteers. He subsequently emigrated to Australia and became Sergeant Major of the Ballarat Volunteer Regiment, a position he had held for over twenty years at the time of his death in 1885. Sgt Maj Heath's Crimea War medals are held at REL31175 and REL31176.