Born in Co. Tipperary, Ireland, c.1828.
Enlisted at Newbridge on the 22nd of January 1849.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 10".
Trade: Farrier.
Appearance: Sallow complexion. Grey eyes, Brown hair.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the HT "Shooting Star" on the 25th of April 1854.
Sent money from the Crimea to his wife, Jane, living in Liverpool, Lancs.
In his "Descriptive Account of the Charge", 1131 John Doyle, 8th Hussars, mentions him for an incident at the Russian guns:
"A Private named Davan [sic] had a mallet and spikes in his haversack; he dismounted and spiked two or three guns, but he had no time to spike any more as the Russian cavalry had completely surrounded us."
Embarked for India aboard the SS "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Embarked for England from India. 25th of July 1861.
Discharged, "time expired", from the Canterbury Depot on the 23rd of December 1861.
Served 12 years 235 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
To live at Newbridge, Ireland.
He re-enlisted into the 5th Dragoon Guards at Dundalk on the 28th of July 1862. Regimental No. 546.
Previous service in the 8th Hussars allowed to reckon towards pension, per Horse Guards letter, dated the 1st of September 1862.
Appointed to Farrier-Sergeant 1st of January 1863.
Confined, 17th-18th of August and reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 19th of August 1867.
Re-appointed to Farrier-Sergeant on the 7th of September 1867.
Discharged from Aldershot on the 20th of April 1869:
"Has Caries. States that he received a lacerated wound when giving a bath to a horse, to the first joint of the index finger. Now has disease and thickening of the metacarpal bone.
Owing to his trade being that of a shoeing-smith he cannot contribute towards his livelihood. Is unfit for further service."
Aged 35 years 8 months on discharge.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Served a total of 19 years 8 months.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years
In India: 4 years.
Conduct and character: "very good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Awarded a pension of 1/6d. per day.
To reside at the Recruiting Office, Westminster, London, after discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps, Turkish Medal and the Mutiny medal.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 and 1879. Recorded on both lists as "Farrier J. Dwan".
1881 Census
23, Marchment Street, Bloomsbury, London
The 1881 Census shows him as aged 47, married, a Commissionaire, born in Donegal, Ireland.
A Jane Paul, aged 35, born in Bristol, Somerset, was shown as his Housekeeper.
Admitted as an In-Pensioner to Chelsea Royal Hospital on the 1st of August 1884. At the time of entry he was stated to be 51 years of age, "his wife would be supported by a married daughter," and he had formerly lived in the West London Pension District.
Died at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the 25th of May 1885.
Death registered
James Dwan, aged 52 years, June Quarter 1885, Chelsea.
He was buried in the Chelsea Hospital Plot in Brompton Cemetery, London. No headstone was erected,
Additional information about the Balaclava Commemoration Society and death registration kindly provided by Chris Poole.