Born at Lathen, Co. Tipperary, on the 12th of May 1820.
Enlisted into the 3rd Light Dragoons at Limerick on the 4th of 0ctober 1836. Regimental No. 528.
Age: 16 years 5 months.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Labourer.
(Under age until the 13th of May 1838.)
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Lt. brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 22nd of December 1845.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of February 1848.
Transferred to the 4th Light Dragoons (as Sergeant) on the 10th of March 1855 — per War Office Authority, dated the 2nd of March 1855.
Embarked for the Crimea on the 20th of June 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 11th of February 1858 and was sentenced "to be reduced to the rank and pay of a private dragoon", this sentence being remitted, and "to remain as Sergeant"
In India: 13 years 6 months.
He was wounded in action at Ferozeshuhur on the 21st of December 1845.
Discharged from Aldershot on the 10th of June 1862: "Free, at own request after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 10 days, to count.
Conduct and character: "good. Once tried by Court-martial."
In possession of three Good Conduct badges.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 9 months
In India: 13 years 6 months.
To live at Woodhouse Farm, Conlist, Cahir, Co. Limerick, after discharge, but he was living in Perth, Australia, from the 1st of March 1864.
Awarded a pension of 2/- per day, but this was increased to 2/2d per day for six years' service in the Enrolled Force, Western Australia. His documents confirm the award of the Sutlej, Punjab, Crimean and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Sutlej medal with clasps for Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, and Sobraon.
Punjab medal with clasps for Chilianwala and Goojerat.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
He was living in Adelaide from the 1st of April 1867 and in Perth, Western Australia, from the 1st of November 1874.
The Dictionary of Western Australia Immigrants 1850-1880 states only that he was born in 1823 [sic] and arrived in Fremantle as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard.
A later edition of the same book adds:
Shown on E.P.F. roll, aged 57. 21st of August 1880.
Purchased barrack bedding and furniture from Q.M. Stores, Fremantle. 1 December 1880.
Escorted 2 deserters from H.M.S "Miranda" to Adelaide per the "Rob Roy" and received free passage for this service. Was sworn in as a Special Constable for this task. 11th of January 1881.
[PB: I believe the above is a quote, but may be wrong.]
He is not included in the list of men comprising the "Enrolled Guard" which was formed on the 11th November 1880, following the dissolution of the Pensioner Force. Its duties were to furnish a Guard for Government House, Perth, for the Convict Prison at Fremantle, and for the Magazine at Fremantle.
A Richard Hourigan (or Madden) [PB: what does "or Madden" mean?], aged 74, died in Tasmania on the 25th of October 1894, but no other details are known.
Richard Hourigan
BORN: c1820
AT: Lathen, Tipperary
OCCUPATION[S]: Labourer
1st REGIMENT NO: 2178 [4LD]
ENLISTED: 13 10 1836, 3rd Light Dragoons
Transfer to 4LD in 1855 not recorded in muster roll.
ATTESTED: 14 10 1836, 3rd Light Dragoons, Limerick, aged 16 and 5/12 years
HEIGHT AT DISCHARGE: 5' 9_"
DESCRIPTION AT DISCHARGE: Fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, trade labourer, no marks or scars on face or body, 42 years.
RANK: 1836: Private [3LD]
1845: Corporal [3LD]
1848: Sergeant [3LD]
1855: Sergeant
1862: Sergeant
PROMOTIONS: From Private to Corporal, 3LD, 22 12 1845
From Corporal to Sergeant, 3LD, 01 02 1848
From Sergeant 3LD to Sergeant 4LD, 10 03 1855
COURT MARTIALS: Regimental Court Martial on 11 02 1858
SENTENCE: Reduction from Sergeant to rank and pay of a Private. Remitted.
MEDALS: Sutlej, Punjab, Crimean and Turkish
DISEMBARKATIONS: 20 06 1855 [Crimea]
CAMPAIGNS: In India with the 3rd Light Dragoons, Crimean War.
TRANSFERRED FROM: 3rd Light Dragoons 10 03 1855
TRANSFERRED TO: 4th Light Dragoons 10 03 1855
DISCHARGED TO OUT PENSION: 10 06 1862 Caher Ireland
Declaration to be made and signed when the soldier receives his discharge at his own request:
I, Richard Hourigan in the 4QO Regt. of Hussars hereby declare that I do, of my own free will, request to be discharged from Her Majesty's Service... Signed Richard Hourigan
Signed in the presence of the Regimental Board at Cahir this 23rd day of May 1862
A.M. Moore, President.
REGIMENTAL BOARD: Cahir 23 May 1852 Proceedings of a Regimental Board, held this day, in conformity to the Articles of War, for the purpose of verifying and recording the Services, Conduct, Character, and cause of Discharge of No. 2178 Sergeant Richard Hourigan of the Regiment above-mentioned [4QO Hussars].
President: Captain Moore
Members: Captain Chaine and Captain Sergison
The Board having examined and compared the Regimental Records, the Soldier's Book, and such other Documents as appeared to them to be necessary, report that No. 2178 Sergeant Richard Hourigan by Trade a Labourer was born in the Parish of Lathen in or near the Town of Tipperary in the County of Tipperary and was attested for the 3rd Kings Own Regiment of Light Dragoons at Limerick in the County of Limerick on the 14th October 1836 at the Age of 16 and 5/12 years that after making every Deduction required by Her Majesty's Regulations, the Service up to this day, which he is entitled to reckon, amounts to 24 years 10 days, as shewn by the detailed Statement on the 2nd page; during which period, he served Abroad 14 and 4/12 years viz:
East Indies 13 and 6/12 years
With Army in East, Turkey and Crimea 10/12 years.
And further, that his Discharge is proposed to Out Pension at his own request having completed 24 years Service.
No. 2178 Sergeant Richard Hourigan being asked to what date he has been paid, answered that his Account is balanced up to the latest period required by the Regulations; and being further asked whether he has any claim on the Regiment for Arrears of Pay, Allowances, or Clothing, answered, that he has received all just demands, from his entry into the Service up to the 23rd May 1862 and in confirmation therefore, affixes his signature hereto. [Signed Richard Hourigan]
Witnessed by W. Sergison, Capt. Commanding the Company to which he belongs.
The Board have ascertained that No. 2178 Sergeant Richard Hourigan Soldier's Book is correctly balanced, and signed by the Officer Commanding his Company, and they declare, that they have impartially enquired into, and faithfully reported upon all the matters brought before them, in accordance with the Regulations and Instructions issued by Her Majesty's Orders.
Signed by A.M. Moore, Capt. President;
W. Chaine, Capt. [and] W. Sergison, Capt. 4th Hs. Members.
MEDICAL REASON: Adjutant General's Office, Dublin. 10 06 1862
The Discharge of the Man above mentioned is approved by the General Commanding N. A. _____vens, Major ___
STATEMENT OF SERVICE: 3rd Light Dragoons, attested Private 14 10 1836 to 13 05 1838, under age
3rd Light Dragoons, Private from 14 05 1838 to 21 12 1845, total 7 years 222 days
3rd Light Dragoons, Promoted Corporal from 22 12 1845 to 31 01 1848, total 2 years 41 days
3rd Light Dragoons, Good Conduct Pay at 1d, 17 05 1846
3rd Light Dragoons, Sergeant from 01 02 1848 to 09 03 1855, total 7 years 37 days
Transferred to 4LD as Sergeant on 10 03 1855 per authority dated Horse Guards 02 03 1855
Making a total service 09 03 1855 of 16 years 300 days
We certify the above statement to be correct, signed W. __ett, Lt. Col. Commanding 3rd Lt. Dragoons
Signed G.F. [Ramety], Lieutenant, Commanding the Troop
Signed J D [Tudge], Pay M[aste]r, 3rd Lt. Dragoons
4th Light Dragoons, transferred, Sergeant from 10 03 1855 to 31 03 1857, total 2 years 22 days
Total Service 18 years 322 days
Total service allowed to 31 03 1857 18 years 322 days
Signed G.J. Brown, Major, 4th Lt. Dragoons, President of Board.
4th Light Dragoons, Sergeant from 01 04 1857 to 23 05 1862, total service 5 years 53 days
Further Service from 24 05 1862 to 10 06 1862 when finally discharged 18 days
Total Service allowed to reckon to the day of final discharge 24 years 28 days
The foregoing Report is hereby confirmed by me, G. ____ Lieut. Col. Commanding 4QO Regt. of Hussars.
PENSION DISTRICT: 1862: Limerick
1865: Limerick
1867: Adelaide
1874: Perth, West Australia
CHARACTER:
With regard to the Character and Conduct of No. 2178 Sergeant Richard Hourigan the Board have to report, that upon reference to the Defaulter's Book, and by the Parole testimony that has been given, it appears that of a good soldier. He is in possession of Sutlej and Punjab Medals, also the Crimean and Turkish Medals.He has been tried by Regimental Court Martial the 11th February 1858 and sentenced to be reduced from Sergeant to the [rank and] pay of a Private Dragoon. Sentence remitted.
NOTES: H5080A Inc[lude]d to 2/2_ for 6 years service in Enrolled Force Wn. Australia.
Bd. 18 01 81 [No. 1]
POST DISCHARGE OCCUPATION[S]: Intended place of Residence: Wood House Farm, Cahir-Conlish, Co. Limerick.
TNA SOURCES: WO/12/660
WO/12/667
WO/23/52
WO/23/62
WO/97/1288/21
LINKS: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb271/is_2_41/ai_n28816257/pg_10/ [Links to EJB's Sabretache article.]
[Source: shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoonh/hourigan1.html (accessed 7.8.15.)]