Death & burial
Killed in action at Balaklava.
Next of kin: Mother, Catherine Dollard, living in Dublin. Also his brother, Patrick Dollard, living in Kilkenny.
[RM, 1.2.2013: Details have recently come to light of the circumstances of Richard Dollard's death, in a letter home from 925 Martin McGrath, 17th Hussars, who was also from Kilkenny. It was published in the Patriotic Fund Journal, 24th February 1855:]
925 Martin McGrath's letter home from the Crimea, in which he describes the death of "Dick Dullard" [sic]. Published in the Patriotic Fund Journal, 24th February 1855.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Transcript of part of the letter:
"Poor Dick Dullard was next to me in the ranks. Lord Lucan gave orders to charge the guns in front of us; we thought that was all there were, but when we got within shot of them they opened fire from about fifty guns, thirteen of which were in front, and the remainder on the hills at each side, so that they had fine play at us.
They completely blew men and horses to pieces before we knew where we were, but about fifty of us got up to their guns, and we cut the gunners all away.
Then we were attacked by some of the cavalry, five of whom bore down on Dick Dullard and me.
We killed four of them, and as Dick had his lance in the fifth, there came a shot from a twelve-pounder which swept the poor fellow's head off, so I had to make the best of my way out of that; and the next shot that was fired out of the same gun, as near as I can judge, blew away the hind quarters of my mare. Thus I was in a nice fix."
Further information
According to Roy Dutton, writing in 2007:
"[Richard Dollard] was married to Elizabeth and had three daughters, Ellen born January 1845, Margaret born February 1847, and Elizabeth February 1849.
All three girls were admitted to the Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum, Wandsworth, on the 4th August 1854 at ages 9 years 7 months, 7 years 8 months and 5 years 8 months respectively.
[PB: must be a typo because the first inmates were not admitted until 1 July 1859. Where did Roy Dutton find their ages, since most records at entry have been lost or are inaccessible? Did RD calculate them, but if so based on what? Or were the girls being cared for in another orphanage (for which records exist) pending the building of the RVPA in Wandsworth? If so, it would be wonderful to find these records.]
The School was maintained by the Royal Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund. When Richard's wife died the fate of his girls' fate was sealed.
Life for orphans in the asylum was extremely harsh being made to wash all their clothes and have their heads shaved to discourage lice. They were made to pump water by hand from an underground rainwater system in the rear courtyard up to water tanks in the towers and also made to assemble in the courtyards every morning and hosed down with cold water.
The warm air heating system failed to work with fireplaces added to the staff rooms but no heating provided to the dormitories.
The orphanage was nearly closed down after a scandal involving abuse by the Rector and the death of one of the orphans, her ghost still allegedly walking the cloisters of the courtyard." [Source: Roy Dutton, Forgotten Heroes (2007), p.294.]
[PB: But can this be so? Why would Richard Dollard not have mentioned his wife Eliabeth as his "next of kin", or made some reference to his daughters if she was dead?]