Private Robert Alstead, who attested for the 34th Regiment in February 1856, aged 18 years, spent the greater part of his service in India, where he was present in the operations at Cawnpore in late 1857, and in the final operations against Lucknow in early 1858. He last appears in the Regimental Musters as being embarked for England in the Walmer Castle in April 1866.