Enlisted at Manchester on the 20th of September 1831.
No other enlistment details are shown.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H. T. "Echunga" on the 15th of May 1854.
Killed-in-action at Balaclava.
Named as "Andrew" Finnegan in the Casualty Lists.
Next of kin: Wife, Letitia Finnegan, with the Regiment in the Crimea.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sebastopol.
His wife, who at this time was maid to Mrs Duberley, wife of the Regimental Paymaster of the 8th, is described in a letter home [source?] as:
"incredibly stupid and is always losing my things. She is also deaf, and is spite of being distraught and overcome at her husband's death, is soon going to console herself."
Extracts from Mrs Duberley's Journal kept during the Russian War:
[PB: Check sources — the published Journal (e.g. "My poor servant..."), or whether some (e.g. "Mrs Finnegan...") are from letters home]
"Thursday, 26th October 1854
[The day after the Charge.]
My poor servant, whose husband was in the 8th, has been in deep anxiety and distress, as, when I left last night, her husband had not been seen. One man told me he thought he saw him fall; but, of course, I would give her no information but facts. To-day, hearing that he had returned wounded, and was in hospital, she started to see if it was true. Alas, poor woman! all she heard was tidings of his death."
"Mrs Finnegan has now recovered from her loss and was looking around for another conquest. First she drew her net around a Sergeant Lynch [probably989 James Lynch, 8th Hussars], who wriggled out at the last moment. Then she cast it around a Corporal Hurst [probably1121 Thomas Hurst, 8th Hussars], who finally extricated himself as dextrously as the Sergeant.
Mrs Finnegan worked off her disappointment by failing at her work and taking advantage of her mistress in every possible way ... she entertained her guests in the hut while we were out, but since none of her guests responded in the hoped-for manner her temper became worse. She developed a more convenient deafness, and after several more weeks of thoroughly awkward behaviour and sheer stupidity, she packed her bags and went home."
[It would be good to know what happened to Mrs Finnegan.]