Susan K. Duguay.
I recently discovered that my grandfather ,
John Ryan, enlisted in the 53rd Regiment
of Foot in Cork in February 1849 and attained the
rank of corporal. After eleven year in India he landed
back in Plymouth spending some time at Portsmouth
and Aldershot and finally being transferred back to
Ireland. Some six months afterwards, he received his
discharge which bore the comment "Conduct very
good". In his possession was three good conduct
badges and an India Mutiny Medal with two clasps,
one for relief of Lucknow in 1857 the other for the
capture of Lucknow city in 1858. He then moved back
to England where he lived for 6 years before coming
to Canada in 1870.
Mr. Ryan came to Canada with his wife and three children and there is never any mention of family back in Ireland, except that on his death certificate it listed the name of his father as William.
mailto:dduguay@sprint.ca
Andrew Fitton - Andy@fittona.freeserve.co.uk
Harry Wellens, M.M. We think this picture was taken in April 1916 when he came home for a few weeks when he was taken ill. The lady in the picture is my grandmother. The young girl is my late aunt Emma.
My grandmothers first husband died whilst fighting with the 7th Bn. KSLI in September 1916. Pte Harry Wellens 6289 was his name, he fought for two years in the Boer War, spent six years in India (Regiment unknown) went home as a reservist and went out with the 1st KSLI but was with the 7th when he was wounded at the end of August, dying of his wounds 5th September at Abbeville. It was announced in the London Gazette on 16/11/16 that he had been awarded the M.M., likewise on the 15/2/17 he had been awarded the Russian Order of St George, third class. This is where my problems start, I would love to be able to find out for what act he won his gallantry medals. A long shot I know but perhaps out there somebody may have a little info that may be of help.
H WELLENS MM, Private, 6289, 7th Bn., King's Shropshire Light Infantry who died on Tuesday, 5th September 1916. Age 34. Order of St. George (Russia). Husband of E. A. Wellens, of 1, Wrigley St., Middleton, Manchester. Born Ince, Lancashire. Enlisted Ashton-Under-Lyne. Living Middleton, Lancs. Cemetery: ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Somme, France - Grave Reference/Panel Number: III. H. 19.
Denis Grant - dgrant@yesic.com
Pte. John Edward Grant - 2402
My grandfather:
John Edward Grant appears on Pay List for the Depot King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Officer Commanding Col. W. O. Barr (?), having transferred from the 7/57 Depot (Royal Fusiliers/Middlesex Regt.). In the Muster Roll for 2nd Battalion stationed at Kilkenny, Ireland taken on 1st Feb 1889 commanded by Lt. Col. G.N. Atkinson, he is shown as stationed at Waterford. The Muster Roll of 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion, commanded by Col. C. E. Knox, stationed at Cork taken on 1st August 1891 shows him at Cork. The Muster Roll of 'E' Company commanded by Maj. H. MacLaughlin stationed at Hong Kong taken on 1st March 1893 again lists him.
There is no other documentation surviving. John Grant had returned to civilian life soon after his return from Hong Kong where he assisted in the 1894 Plague and was possibly a recipient of the Hong Kong Plague Medal, a civil honour associated with that event.
