Life after Service
[Eds: In May 2006, a descendant, Mr Colin Langham-Fitt, provided the following information:
“James Devlin married Jane Partridge at Reepham with Kerdiston, in Norfolk on 22nd Jan 1857, age given as 23 (therefore date of birth 1834). Father's name shown as Denis Devlin (clerk). Family story has it he was the Governor of Athlone Gaol but I have been unable to prove or disprove this.”]
Death & Burial
James Devlin died 3rd of February 1892. He was buried in Grave No. AC75 (South) on the 6th of February 1892. A head-stone was erected over the grave.
Extracts from the Irish Times of the 5th of February 1892:
“Devlin - February 3rd., at his residence, 8 Connaught Terrace, Garville Road, Rathgar, James Devlin, Esq., late Chief Clerk, Adjutant-General's Department, Dublin Castle, aged 58 years. Funeral will leave at 10 o'clock tomorrow (Saturday) morning for Glasnevin Cemetery, R.I.P.
“We deeply regret to see announced in our obituary columns the death of Mr. James Devlin, late of the Adjutant-General's Department at Dublin. He was one of the survivors of the memorable charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, in which he was severely wounded and for which he was awarded, in addition to the Crimean medal with three clasps, and the Turkish medal, the "Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field." He was a general favourite, and will be deeply missed...”
Extract from the Broad Arrow of the 13th February 1892:
“4th Hussars - We regret to announce the death on the 3rd. inst. at Dublin, of Mr. James Salamander Devlin, late of this regiment.
He was born at sea, some 58 years ago, aboard the gun-boat "Salamander" and according to the usual custom of those born at sea, was named after the ship.
At the age of 19 he joined the 4th Light Dragoons and rode in the charge at Balaclava. This was his only action, for his sword hand was nearly severed with a sabre cut and he also received a bullet in the left shoulder. The bullet was extracted, and when, a few years ago, inflammation set in, the wound re-opened and did not close until a piece of his jacket came out, having been there for twenty-nine years. He was awarded the Crimean medal with three clasps, the Turkish medal and the medal for distinguished conduct in the field.
He had occupied for several years past the position of Chief Clerk in the Adjutant-General's Department in Dublin, and was a general favourite in the office, as indeed, with all who knew him.
The funeral took place on Saturday, the band and a firing-party of the 3rd Hussars being present on behalf of the 4th Hussars, now stationed at Colchester. Amongst the many tributes of affection and sympathy may be mentioned a beautiful wreath sent by the officers of the 4th Hussars.”
Extract from the Irish Times of the 8th of February 1892:
"One of the Six Hundred." - On Saturday last the remains of Mr. James Devlin were laid in their last resting place in Glasnevin Cemetery. The sad ceremony was made more impressive by the presence of the band of the 3rd King's Own Hussars, on behalf of the 4th Queen's Own Hussars (late Light Dragoons) the deceased's old regiment, who now stationed at Colchester.
Amongst the many tributes of affection and sympathy may be mentioned a beautiful wreath sent by the officers of the 4th, as well as those sent by Mrs. Sheeran, Major Gorman, Major Grace, and Miss Cort.
The coffin, which was of solid oak, bore on its breast-plate the following inscription: ‘James Devlin. Died 3rd February 1892. Aged 58 years. R.I.P.’ The chief mourners were William Francis Devlin (son) Joseph H. Sheeran (brother-in-law) and James W. Dawson (nephew)... [Then follows a list of other mourners, mainly from the various Government Departments.]
After the recital of prayers by the Revd. J. Coffey, and J. Duane, Q.G.C., the usual volleys were fired, and thus honour was fully accorded to as gallant a soldier as ever drew sabre for his Queen and country..."
From The History of the Roman Catholic Cemeteries of Dublin (William Fitzpatrick, 1900):
“A group of veterans, some of whom bore scars, attended in February of 1882 the burial of James Devlin, late of the Adjutant General's Office, one of the survivors of the ‘Six Hundred’ in the Cavalry Charge at Balaclava. That he should have escaped what Tennyson called the ‘The mouth of Hell’, and nearly 40 years after found a grave in the peaceful seclusion of Glasnevin Cemetery, was a blessing which his family gratefully recognised.“
Further Information
The Distinguished Conduct Medal
At the commencement of the Crimean War there was no provision for an award for a particular act, or acts, of gallantry for Corporals or Privates, while for Sergeants the Meritorious Service Medal was of indeterminate status, and could be given either for general conduct or for a particular act. This carried an annuity not exceeding £20. By a Royal Warrant dated the 4th of December 1854 it was promulgated that:
“One Sergeant in each Regiment of Cavalry and Infantry and one of each Battalion in the Foot Guards and Rifle Brigade serving in the East, in the Crimea or elsewhere, shall be selected by the Commanding Officer and recommended to Us for the grant of an annuity not exceeding £20, The Annuity so granted is to be at the disposal of such Sergeant although he may still be in Our Service. The Sergeant to be selected for the annuity of £20 is to be the Individual whom you may consider most deserving of such a Reward...”
A further proposal was made in the same Royal Warrant to extend the provisions and recommend (in particular for the Cavalry, but an increased number for the Infantry and Guards Regiments) to:
“One Sergeant, two Corporals and four Privates, to receive a Medal and Gratuity, this to be in the instance of a Sergeant, £15, for a Corporal £10 and for Private £5. This Gratuity is to be placed in the Regimental Savings Bank, there to remain on Deposit at Interest until His Discharge from Our Service and to be deemed his Personal Property... I am further directed to observe that in selecting individuals for the Gratuities to be awarded for Distinguished Service or Gallant Conduct in the Field, you are not to be fettered in your selection by any consideration as to the Length of Service, the General Good Conduct of the Individual (and especially in the late operations) being alone the qualifications to entitle him to the Award.”
By July of 1859 this Gratuity Fund was exhausted and no further awards were made for the Crimean War. Since the original recommendations made by the Commanding Officers have not survived it is impossible to say what standards were applied in selecting men for awards. When the inscription on the medal was being considered it was accepted that the medal could be given for some distinguished service, not necessarily in action, and it can be read as meaning that gallantry was more appropriate to awards with gratuity, than those with an annuity.
However, on the 17th of March 1856 a Memorandum from the Horse Guards stated:
“The latter part of the Warrant referred to, relating to Medals and Gratuities for Non-commissioned Officers and Privates has been invariably interpreted to apply only for ‘Distinguished Conduct in the Field’ (as is inscribed on the Medal) and no Non-combatant has accordingly received them, however exemplary may have been the performance of his duties.
“The Medal accompanying the Annuities already bestowed on Non-Combatant Sergeants and inscribed ‘For Distinguished Conduct in the Field’, have been, if the known arguments are correct, erroneously conferred, and the cases should not be made a precedent...”
By the date of the Memorandum seven Hospital Sergeants from all arms had received the medal and annuity and no doubt these were the cases to which the Adjutant-General referred. All in all, though, it seems likely that the great majority of awards for the Crimea were, however, made for acts of gallantry.
Photographs & Illustrations
2 portraits.
His gravestone in Glasnevin Cemetery bears the inscriptions:
"In loving memory of Charles Joseph, eldest son of James Devlin, Adjutant-General's Office, Dublin, who died 7th of April 1876, aged 20 years.
"James Partridge, 2nd son, who died 5th of July 1883, aged 21 years.
"Mary Ellen, his child, who died 10th of October 1884, aged 1 year.
"Also of James Devlin, who died 3rd of February 1892, aged 58 years. ‘One of the Noble Six Hundred.’ Served with the 4th Queen's Own Light Dragoons in the Crimea and was severely wounded in the ever memorable Charge of the Light Brigade, 25th of October 1854."
At the base of the stone is "Rest, Warrior, rest, heed not the route. Until the trumpet sounds the grand ‘Turn Out.’ R.I.P.”
James Devlin also appears in a group photograph of survivors of the Light Brigade taken on 25th October 1887. This is in the National Army Museum collection, accession no. NAM 1987-10-56. He is in the back row, second from the right.
