PRIVATE JAMES HANN, 3RD BATTALION THE PRINCE CONSORT’S OWN RIFLE BRIGADE. Indian Mutiny Medal, 1857-58, no clasp (officially impressed: JAs. HANN 3rd. Bn. Pce. Cs. RIFLE BRIGADE.).

PRIVATE JAMES HANN, 3RD BATTALION THE PRINCE CONSORT’S OWN RIFLE BRIGADE. Indian Mutiny Medal, 1857-58, no clasp (officially impressed: JAs. HANN 3rd. Bn. Pce. Cs. RIFLE BRIGADE.). Few small edge nicks and rim bruises, otherwise attractively toned and Good Very Fine or better.

With 4 pages photocopied discharge papers and extracts from the Irish 1901 and 1911 census returns. Born circa 1839 in the parish of Donaclony, Waringstown, James Hann enlisted into the Rifle Brigade at Banbridge, Co. Down, on 18/9/1857. At the time of enlistment he was 18 years of age and gave his trade as weaver. Hann never rose above the rank of Private, and was discharged at Manchester on 10/3/1868, after 10 years and 189 days with the colours. Service papers confirm regimental number as 1720 and that Hann was entitled to the Indian Mutiny Medal. At the time of discharge his conduct was described as being good, only once entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book and never tried by court martial. At time of discharge Hann gave his intended place of residence as Lurgan, Co. Armagh, Ireland. Notes inscribed on his discharge papers after discharge indicate that he was the subject of pension applications as late as 25/9/1889.

Although service papers confirm entitlement to Indian Mutiny Medal, Private Hann’s name does not appear on the medal rolls, original or published. The naming details on his medal indicates that it is a late issue (the Rifle Brigade only adopted the title The Prince Consort’s Own Rifle Brigade in 1862, and continued to use that title to 1881). As a result, his late claim would be among the many that were not included in the original medal roll. The fact that Indian Mutiny Medals to the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade are normally named “Rifle Brigade” only would also indicate that this medal is a late issue, and unusual in that it is impressed with the additional post-1862 title “Prince Consort’s Own”.

The pay musters for the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade confirm Hann as having arrived in India on 18/10/1858 aboard the Victor Emmanuel, and joining the 3rd Battalion in the field on 25/11/1858, thus arriving too late to qualify for any of the campaign clasps to the Indian Mutiny Medal.

The 1901 and 1911 Irish census returns both record a James Hann, born circa 1839, living in Northern Ireland, at 34 North Street, Lurgan, in 1901, and 45 Lincoln Street (off the Falls Road, Shankill), Belfast, in 1911. In the 1911 census, James Hann gave his place of birth as Waringstown, and so is undoubtedly the recipient of this medal. Interestingly, in the 1901 census, Hann gave his occupation as “banker”, and in the 1911 census as “ex-banker”. There were a total of 12 people resident in his house at the time of the 1901 census, Hann, his wife, a son, three daughters, 5 boarders and a servant. The Hann household had been reduced to 7 by the time of the 1911 census, Hann, his wife, son and 4 daughters. At the time of the 1911 census James Hann was 72 years of age, his wife 45 (they presumably married after his discharge from the Rifle Brigade) and his youngest daughter just 4 years of age. James Hann is recorded as having died in 1917.

Hann obviously had a long and successful life, rising from weaver via enlisted soldier to professional banker, fathering his last child at 68 years of age, and thus might be worthy of further research.