Private John Papps was born in Westbury, Wiltshire and enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons at Warminster in March 1807, aged 18 years. He subsequently served with the Colours for 13 years and was present at a number of actions and skirmishes in the Peninsula. At the Battle of Albuhera, the 4th Light Dragoons attacked the Polish Lancers, who had earlier overwhelmed Colborne's Brigade, and suffered 29 casualties. And again in the thick of the action at Salamanca, as part of Le Marchant's Brigade, it helped smash several French Battalions at a cost of 28 casualties. Papps was discharged in November 1820 in consequence of 'being unfit for marching duty and worn out'. His general conduct was described as being 'Irregular'.