Born in Dublin, c.1826.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 27th of November 1846.
Age: 20 years 3 months.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Sawyer.
Appearance: Dark complexion. Hazel eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Rode in the Charge.
In an affidavit submitted for the Cardigan-Calthorpe law-suit, dated the 29th of May 1863, when he was a Private in the 4th Hussars stationed at Newbridge in Ireland, he stated:
1. I have been sixteen and half years in the service. I was in the Light Cavalry charge at the battle of Balaclava on the 25th of October 1854 and was in the right squadron in the front rank and on the left of the squadron.
2. When we were charging up to the battery and within 300 yards of it, we met Lord Cardigan alone, returning to the rear on a chestnut horse; he was cantering back and was on the left of the 4th Light Dragoons; I know Lord Cardigan well, and I am quite certain it was him that I saw retiring.
3. We then attacked the guns and I recollect Lord George Paget telling us to reform and retire. I did not see Lord Cardigan whilst we were engaged at the guns. When we got back from where we started from, I saw Lord Cardigan in front of us; he rode up and said, "This has been a great blunder, but don't blame me for it."
4. The fact of Lord Cardigan's return has often been talked about in the Regiment.
John Chadwick of the 17th Lancers, when investigating for Lord Cardigan the motives of the men of the 4th Light Dragoons who had given evidence in their sworn affidavits for the Cardigan-Calthorpe law-suit in 1863 discovered from "Daniel Deering, of that Regiment, who was Barrack Policeman at that time, that the chief inducement held out to them by Calthorpe's agent was, as Deering expressed it, "the spree they would have on going to London..."
Next of kin: Wife, Hannah, shown on the Regimental "Married roll" from the 13th of August 1867.
At Scutari: 4th-24th of April 1855.
Discharged from Dublin on the 7th of February 1871, at "Own request, after 24 years' service."
Served 24 years 55 days. In Turkey and the Crimea 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 22nd of July 1868, with a gratuity of £5.
His documents confirm only the Crimean medal with four clasps.
Named as "Deevan" on the Alma/Inkerman and Sebastopol rolls, but as "Deering" on the Balaclava clasp roll.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
Attended the Annual Dinners in 1893, 1895 and 1897.
Present at the Fleet Street offices of T.H. Roberts for the Jubilee celebrations held there in June of 1897 and signed the testimonial given to Mr. Roberts on that occasion. (There is a copy in the "Memoirs" file.) He was also a pensioner of the Roberts Fund.
A street in the town has been named after him.
[PB: Locate and add a map and further information etc.]
He said he intended to live at Bickward, near Kilmainham, after discharge, but in 1863 he was living at 7, Hudson Street, Bluebell Hill, Nottingham. This is most probably where he died, as his death, on the 25th of May 1904, was reported to the authorities by a Mr. Seeley Whitby, who organised an Association in the area for the relief of Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans.
1881 Census
36, Virginia Street (Part of School Building), Parish of St. Mary's, Nottingham.
The 1881 Census shows him as a School Caretaker, aged 54 years, born in Dublin, living with his wife, Hannah, 40, born at Arnold, Nottinghamshire, a Laundress.
Daniel Deering died at Nottingham on the 25th of May 1904 and was buried in Grave No. 06330 in the D.A. Section of the General Cemetery there. His wife, Hannah, is also buried with him. There is no headstone or memorial on the grave.
See the report of his funeral, taken from the Nottingham Daily Guardian, 31st of May 1904, in the 4th Hussar file. He is named as "Deering" in this.
There is a photograph in the 17th Lancer file of the "Veterans' Plot" in the General Cemetery at Nottingham in which he was buried.