was he a soldier in 1871 cens?
I know that some of the 1861 census is missing from london anyway..
Completely Missing
145 - All of Islington East, sub to Islington District, Middlesex
219 - All of West London South, sub to West London District, London
(Though Ancestry say 219 is completely missing, 1700 names do appear!!)
407 - All of Woolwich Arsenal, sub to Woolwich District, London
601 - All of Palace, sub to Brighton District, Sussex
903 - All of Woodstock, sub to Woodstock District, Oxfordshire
1039 - All of Ely, sub to Ely District, Cambridgeshire
1231 - All of Harleston, sub to Depwade District, Norfolk
1234 - All of Forncett, sub to Depwade District, Norfolk
3388 - Part of West Leeds, sub to Leeds District, Yorkshire (WR)
4015 - Part of Caerleon sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4022 - All of Newport, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4131 - All of Llandilo, sub to Llandilofawr District, Carmarthenshire
4137 - Part of St Clears, sub to Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
4196 - Part of Aberystwyth, sub to Aberystwyth District, Cardiganshire
4291 - All of Llanelidan, sub to Ruthin District, Denbighshire
4344 - All of Carnarvon, sub to Caernarvon District, Caernarvonshire
4389 - All of Herm and Sark, Channel islands
Partly Missing
217 - Part of West London North, sub to West London North District, London
220 - Part of London South West, sub to City of London District
229 - Part of London North East, sub to City of London District
473 - Part of Northfleet, sub to North Aylesford, Kent
485 - Part of East Peckham, sub to Malling District, Kent
499 - Part of Loose, sub to Maidstone District, Kent
541 - Part of Wingham, sub to Eastry District, Kent
565 - Part of Battle, sub to Battle District, Sussex
690 - Part of The Worthys, sub to Winchester District, Hampshire
758 - Part of Egham, sub to Windsor District, Surrey
837 - Part of Kings Langley, sub to Hemel Hempstead District, Hertfordshire
863 - Part of Princes Risborough, sub to Wycombe District, Buckinghamshire
952 - Part of Higham Ferrers, sub to Wellingborough District, Cambridgeshire
1047 - Part of Leverington, sub to Wisbech District, Cambridgeshire
1194 - Part of Yarmouth Northern, sub to Yarmouth District, Norfolk
1984 - Part of Tettenhall, sub to Wolverhampton District, Staffordshire
2211 - Part of Rugby, sub to Rugby District, Warwickshire
2247 - Part of Lutterworth, sub to Lutterworth District, Leicestershire
2365 - Part of Wragby, sub to Horncastle District, Lincolnshire
2625 - Part of Chester Castle, sub to Chester District, Cheshire
3278 - Part of Halifax, sub to Halifax District, Yorkshire (WR)
3652 - Part of Marske, sub to Guisborough District, Yorkshire (NR)
3735 - Part of Lanchester, sub to Durham District, County Durham
3855 - Part of Stamfordham, sub to Castle Ward Reg District, Northumberland
3913 - Part of Wetheral, sub to Carlisle District, Cumberland
3984 - Part of Dingestow, sub to Monmouth District, Herefordshire
3991 - Part of Llanarth, sub to Abergavenny District, Monmouthshire
4010 - Part of Pontypool, sub to Pontypool District, Monmouthshire
4013 - Part of Caerleon, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4014 - Part of Caerleon, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4024 - Part of St Woollos, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4025 - Part of St Woollos, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4027 - Part of Mynyddyslwyn, sub to Newport District, Monmouthshire
4041 - Part of St Nicholas, sub to Cardiff District, Glamorganshire
4077 - Part of Bridgend, sub to Bridgend District, Glamorganshire
4078 - Part of Bridgend, sub to Bridgend District, Glamorganshire
4079 - Part of Bridgend, sub to Bridgend District, Glamorganshire
4132 - Part of Llandebie, sub to Llandilofawr District, Carmarthenshire
4133 - Part of Llandebie, sub to Llandilofawr District, Carmarthenshire
4138 - Part of St Clears, sub to Carmarthen District, Carmarthenshire
4143 - Part of Conwil, Sub to Carmarthen District, Carmarthenshire
4146 - Part of Llanboidy, sub to Narbeth District, Pembrokeshire
4149 - Part of Narbeth, sub to Narbeth District, Pembrokeshire
4154 - Part of Tenby, sub to Pembroke District, Pembrokeshire
4161 - Part of Milford, sub to Haverfordwest District, Pembrokeshire
4163 - Part of Haverfordwest, sub to Haverfordwest District, Pembrokeshire
4164 - Part of Haverfordwest, sub to Haverfordwest District, Pembrokeshire
4165 - Part of Haverfordwest, sub to Haverfordwest District, Pembrokeshire
4173 - Part of Newport, sub to Cardigan District, Pembrokeshire
4174 - Part of Newport, sub to Cardigan District, Pembrokeshire
4178 - Part of Llandygwydd, sub to Cardigan District, Cardiganshire
4184 - Part of Llandyssil, sub to Newcastle in Emlyn District, Cardiganshire
4185 - Part of Llandyssil, sub to Newcastle in Emlyn District, Cardiganshire
4187 - Part of Pencarreg, sub to Lampeter District, Carmarthenshire
4190 - Part of Llandisilio, sub to Narberth District, Carmarthenshire
4202 - Part of Llangeitho, sub to Tregaron District, Cardiganshire
4211 - Part of Brecknock, sub to Brecknock District, Breconshire
4225 - Part of Hay, sub to Hay District, Breconshire
4228 - Part of Radnor, sub to Kington District, Radnorshire
4231 - Part of Kington, sub to Kington District, Radnorshire
4256 - Part of Chirbury, sub to Forden District, Montgomeryshire
4261 - Part of Llansaintffraid, sub to Llanfyllin District, Montgomeryshire
4262 - Part of Llansaintffraid, sub to Llanfyllin District, Montgomeryshire
4263 - Part of Llansaintffraid, sub to Llanfyllin District, Montgomeryshire
4265 - Part of Llanrhaiade, sub to Llanfyllin District, Montgomeryshire
4266 - Part of Whitford, sub to Holywell District, Flintshire
4270 - Part of Holywell, sub to Holywell District, Flintshire
4272 - Part of Flint, sub to Holywell District, Flintshire
4274 - Part of Mold, sub to Holywell District, Flintshire
4276 - Part of Mold, sub to Holywell District, Flintshire
4280 - Part of Ruabon, sub to Wrexham District, Denbighshire
4290 - Part of Ruthin, sub to Ruthin District, Denbighshire
4295 - Part of St Asaph, sub to St Asaph District, Denbighshire
4298 - Part of Abergele, sub to St Asaph District, Denbighshire
4299 - Part of Abergele, sub to St Asaph District, Denbighshire
4301 - Part of Denbigh, sub to St Asaph District, Denbighshire
4304 - Part of Llanrwst, sub to Llanrwst District, Denbighshire
4309 - Part of Gwyddelwern, sub to Corwen District, Denbighshire
4314 - Part of Bala, sub to Bala District, Merionethshire
4319 - Part of Barmouth, sub to Dolgelly District, Merionethshire
4330 - Part of Pwllheli, sub to Pwllheli District, Caernarvonshire
you might have better luck actually looking in the local archives for these records