Born in Kildare, Ireland.
Enlisted at Athlone on the 17th of January 1850.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Cooper.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Wounded in the left leg during the Charge.
Discharged from Cahir on the 28th of 0ctober 1861:
"Being medically unfit for her Majesty's service. Has varicose veins. The disability started about two years ago. May be attributable to his natural pre-disposition and to some extent to his military service."
Served 11 years 220 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "good". Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges.
Twice tried by a Regimental Court-martial: on the 2nd of April 1856, when he was sentenced to 42 days' imprisonment, and again on the 13th of August 1861, when he was "In cells" 13 — 19 of August.
Aged 32 years 9 months on discharge.
To live at 13, Ship Street, Birmingham.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
1881 Census
7, Alderley Street, Aston, Warwickshire
The 1881 Census shows him as a Corporation Labourer, aged 50, born at Kildare, Ireland, living with his son, 25, born Brighton, Sussex, a Bedstead Chipper [sic].
Died on the 16th of February 1892. Believed to have died at Alderley Street, Birmingham.
From a contemporary newspaper [unknown source]:
Death of a Balaclava Hero — Henry Keegan, one of the three Birmingham Balaclava survivors of the memorable charge at Balaclava died at his residence in Alderley Street on Tuesday morning. Keegan was born in Kildare in 1823 [sic] and early in life he enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons, now the 4th Hussars.
In 1854 he went to the Crimea with his regiment and was at the battle of the Alma and the siege of Sebastopol. In the Balaclava Charge he received a sabre cut on the left leg. In 1860, after 11 years and 8 months service, he was discharged, invalided, on a pension of 8d. per day, which was granted for a period of two and-a-half years only."
Extract from the "Broad Arrow", 27th of February 1892:
4th Hussars — The funeral of Henry Keegan, one of the survivors of Balaclava, took place at Whitton Cemetery, Birmingham, on Saturday last, (the 20th.) Keegan, who had served throughout the Crimean War with the 4th Light Dragoons, lived with his son in Alderley Street, Birmingham, and has, for some time past, received an allowance from a public fund, and obtained by some of his friends.
A very large number of people had assembled in front of the house, and along the line of route. He was buried with military honours. A firing-party of 12 men of the 14th Light Dragoons (Hussars) headed the procession, then came the Police Band, followed by a gun-carriage lent by the Balsall Heath Artillery, upon which the coffin was placed. This was covered with the Union Jack and upon it lay Keegan's busby and sword.
Troop Sergeant Major Howes and Sergeant Parkinson, both of whom took part in the historic Charge, followed as representing the Light Brigade. Five mourning coaches conveyed the deceased's relatives and came next, and the rear was brought up by "H" Troop of the 14th Hussars, which is on detachment duty at Birmingham. The interment was witnessed by a very large assembly."
The Cemetery records show that he was interred in a public grave, No. 213-32932 and that no headstone was erected. He was brought from 156, Alderley Street, Birmingham, and was aged 60 years.