Born in Tipperary, Ireland.
Enlisted at Cahir on the 13th of February 1847.
Age: 19.
Height: 5'9".
Trade: Baker.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Brown eyes. Brown hair.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Shooting Star" on the 25th of April 1854.
At Scutari General Hospital from the 22nd of September and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 3rd of October 1854.
Served with Lord Raglan's Escort Troop during early 1855.
Again sent to Scutari on the 25th of July 1855.
Shown as "Deserted" from the 18th of August 1856, rejoining on the 24th of September 1856. Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned from the 25th of September 1856 — 25th of January 1857 and to forfeit all of his previous service of 9 years 187 days. This was, however, restored by a War Office letter, dated the 22nd of August 1862.
"Absent without leave" and imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial from the 26th of May — 8th of June 1857.
"In cells", 11th-24th of July 1861.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain, 8th of October 1857.
Discharged from Edinburgh on the 12th of January 1869:
"Unfit for further service — second finger of the right hand being lost and the third finger contracted. The disability is the result of an accident received in the discharge of his military duties. He will not be able to contribute more than one half towards earning his livelihood. Not aggravated by vice or mis-conduct."
Conduct: "good". Was in possession of three Good Conduct badges from the 26th of September 1868.
Next of kin (in February 1869): Wife, Mary Hogan.
Twenty-seven times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Was twice tried by Court-martial.
Served in Turkey and the Crimea, 1 year 10 months
In India: 6 years 8 months.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal, and the Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
A letter was sent, dated the 10th of October 1899, relating to an application for an increased pension. "Refused, unless disability has been increased by loss of finger — not [underlined] through wound at Balaclava, but by an accident in 1866."
Although the wording of his application is not known it would appear from the reply wording, and his obituary notice, that he tried to make it appear he had lost his finger at Balaclava.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah.
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 Dinner in 1893.
Present at the funeral of Sergeant Bentley on the 11th Hussars on the 5th of March 1891.
He died on the 24th of June 1900 when he was living in "The Shambles", York, and was buried in a public grave in York Cemetery. (See report of his funeral taken from the Yorkshire Gazette, 30th of June 1900, in the 8th Hussar file.)
He was receiving help for the Roberts Fund before his death.
Extract from the Yorkshire Evening Post, 25th of June 1900:
"Very sad circumstances attend the death of John Hogan, well known in York as a Balaclava hero, who died yesterday at No. 3 Lord's Yard, in the Shambles. Hogan was a fine old soldier and his record should have ensured him at least comfort in his old age and decent interment.
Unfortunately in his case there are no means of providing the funeral expenses without applying to the Receiving Officer. His relatives appeal to us through the generosity of the public to provide the small amount necessary to meet the old man's last wish and keep him "off the parish." Hogan, who for 24 years belonged to the 8th Hussars and held the Turkish, Crimean, Sebastopol and Centre of India medals, joined the regiment in Ireland.
In the Crimea he was present at the battles of the Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol, in addition to taking part in the Balaclava Charge. He was 19 when he took part in the Charge, so was about 65 at the time of his death. The second finger of his sword hand was shot away [sic]. After service in India he took his discharge at Edinburgh. He later settled in York, where he worked either as a carpenter or as a labourer."
Extract from the Yorkshire Evening News, Tuesday, June 26th 1900:
"We are pleased to be able to state that a prompt and generous response has been made to the appeal we made yesterday on behalf of the relatives of the poor old soldier, John Hogan. Mrs. W.T. Beckwith has at once collected £1 12s. towards the expenses of his funeral, we have received an anonymous subscription of 10/6d. and Mr. Thackery has kindly offered to provide a hearse, free. We understand that the military authorities will accord a soldier's honours to the ceremony and therefore the old man's dying wish will be gratified. He will not be "buried by the parish..."
Extract from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Thursday, 28th of June 1900:
"Mr. James Klein, of No 9 Hawarden Place, St. Andrewgate, has collected small sums for the purpose of providing a wreath for the coffin of the late John Hogan, formerly of the 8th Hussars, the circumstances of whose death has already been the occasion of comment in our columns. The total amount collected by Mr. Klein is 9/6d."
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census he was living in Coffee Yard, in the parish of St. Michael le Belfrey, York, a Chelsea Pensioner, Retired, aged 50, and born in Tipperary, Ireland, with his wife, Sarah, 40, born in York. (From this he must have been twice married.)
Hogan was buried in a public grave, No. 12321, in York Cemetery on the 28th of June 1900, being the first of nine interments (including two children, interred in the same grave-space.) His age was given as 72 years, and the cause of death as "Senile decay."
(There is a photograph of the area of his gravesite (in front of the upright stone) in the 8th Hussar file.)