Born at Maynooth, Co. Kildare, on the 24th of June 1829.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 25th of June 1847.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Messenger.
Further physical details are not available. A note on his documents states: "Part of his attestation papers destroyed by the person employed to light the office fire." [sic]
Slightly wounded during the Charge at Balaclava.
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854 and to Malta on the 15th of December, the muster roll later showing, "Reported from Scutari to England in March." (1855.)
At Chatham Invalid Depot from the 16th of March to the 30th of June 1855, when he was sent to Maynooth, Dublin, "on furlo until discharge."
He was finally discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 28th of November 1855.
"Found unfit for further service. Disabled by gun-shot wound of the left fore-arm and fracture of the Ulna. Oblique gun-shot wound through the forearm, the ball passing through the back of the Ulna and stopping at the forefront of the forearm. — partial contraction, but likely to improve."
Served 8 years 90 days. Aged 26 years 5 months on discharge.
Conduct: "a very good soldier".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
To live in Dublin after discharge, but he was living at Taunton from 1856.
Awarded a pension of 9d a day from the 20th of November 1855 but this was increased to 10d. per day from the date set by a Medical Board held on the 16th of December 1873.
Pension increased to 19d. for 27 years' service as Troop Sgt Major on the Permanent Staff of the West Somerset Yeomanry on the 17th of April 1883.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Lummis and Wynn state that he rode in the Charge as a Pte, although promoted to Corporal There is no trace of this promotion on his documents, but he is shown in the official "casualty lists" as a Cpl.
1881 Census
The 1881 Census shows him as living at the "Castle Inn," Bidford Place, Bridgwater, Somerset, a Drill Instructor WSB Yeomanry, aged 51, born in Ireland with his wife, Sarah A. aged 46, born in Bridgwater and one daughter aged 16, a Printing Basiner [sic].
Died on the 9th of January 1895 and was buried in the Bristol Road Cemetery, Bridgwater, on the 12th of January 1895. (See photograph of his grave and tombstone, in the 4th Hussar file.) See also copy of his obituary notice and funeral report taken from the "Bridgwater Mercury" for the 16th of January 1895 in the 4th Hussar file.
In October of 1985, the local British Legion renovated the stone and grave area, this being reported in a local newspaper at the time. (See copies of the newspaper articles and photographs taken on this occasion, in the 4th Hussar file.)
(In 1996 a picture of him was obtained, in uniform and wearing his medals, the original said to be have been taken on the 13th of October 1890 by Abraham Squibbs, of Fore Street, Bridport. (See copy in the 4th Hussar file.)