Private John Hindley was born in Manchester and attested for the 2nd Regiment locally in September 1841, aged 18 years. He subsequently served 21 years with the Colours, eight of them in South Africa where he qualified for the Medal 1834-53, and four of them in the East Indies, including service in the Second China War. Hindley was finally discharged at Aldershot in October 1862, his Service Record stating that he had been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.