PRIVATE P. KENNY, 77TH (EAST MIDDLESEX) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE’S OWN MIDDLESEX REGIMENT), (LATE 70TH (SURREY) REGIMENT). Crimea Medal, 3 Clasps, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol

PRIVATE P. KENNY, 77TH (EAST MIDDLESEX) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE’S OWN MIDDLESEX REGIMENT), (LATE 70TH (SURREY) REGIMENT). Crimea Medal, 3 Clasps, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol (contemporary engraved naming: PAT(RIC)K KENNY 7-7 FOOT). Rim bruised from contact with other medal, partially obscuring naming details(as indicated), scattered surface contact marks, otherwise attractively toned and Very Fine to Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by 4 pages of copied discharge papers and copied medal roll extracts, confirming medal and Clasps.

There is only one Patrick Kenny listed on the Crimea Medal rolls for the 77th Foot.

Patrick Kenny was born in Galway city, Co. Galway, Ireland in 1835. He enlisted into the 70th Foot at Manchester on 14/7/1853. At the time of enlistment he was 18 years old and gave his trade as that of labourer. Kenny transferred to the 77th Foot on 17/2/1854 and was serving with the 77th Foot when it sailed for the Crimea from Liverpool on 24/3/1854. Kenny was promoted Corporal on 11/3/1864 but reduced to Private on 3/5/1865. He was discharged on 29/9/1874, after 21 years and 46 days service with the colours. Discharge papers describe Kenny’s conduct as having been “very good and state that, in addition to service at home, he saw service for 2 years and 5 months in the Crimea, 10 months in New South Wales (Australia) and 9 years and 4 months in India.

Medal also accompanied by a selection of copied muster roll extracts for the 70th and 77th Foot recording Kenny’s original enlistment into the 70th Foot, transfer to the 77th Foot, his being invalided to the 77th Foot depot at Calcutta, India, in January 1859 and embarkation from Calcutta for England on 11/1/1864.

Since Kenny was born in Galway city in 1835 and enlisted into the 70th Foot at Manchester in1854, he was undoubtedly one of the many Irishmen who emigrated from Ireland to England to escape the disastrous potato famine of 1845-52. He no doubt enlisted into the British army to escape the atrocious living conditions in Manchester prevailing at that times of his enlistment in 1854. For a description of the living conditions in Manchester at the time of Kenny’s enlistment, see Friedrich Engels The Condion of the Working Class in England”.

Medal also accompanied by two copied group photographs of officers of the 77th Foot taken taken circa 1860.