Added 3.12.12
IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION
936, Private Patrick DOOLAN — 8th Hussars
Birth & early life
Born at Nenagh, Tipperary.
Enlistment
Enlisted at Dublin on the 15th of March 1846, with a bounty of five pounds, fifteen shillings and sixpence.
Age: 17 years 9 months.
Height: 5' 7.
Trade: Labourer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Service
Confined by order of the Commanding Officer. 11-27 of June 1848. Imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial. 9-27 of September 1848.
Imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial. 11th of July — 20th of September 1850.
Imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial. 14th of June — 24th of July 1851.
Imprisoned by a District Court-martial. 10th of July -31st of August 1852. This was for "Disgraceful Conduct."
Imprisoned by a District Court-martial. 27 February — 11th of August 1853.
Service
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H. T. "Marianne" on the 19th of April 1854.
After being wounded in action during the Charge, Doolan was picked up by Major de Salis and placed upon the Major's own horse. De Salis then led the horse back to the English lines.
Invalided from Scutari to England on the 10th of January 1855.
Discharge & pension
Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 23rd of June 1855, as:
"Rendered quite unfit for further service from severe gun-shot wounds across the face, fracturing the lower jaw on both sides, and injuring several important nerves.
The Surgeon's report confirmed that his discharge was on 'account of the severe wounds received by him during the cavalry charge at Balaclava'."
Served 7 years 297 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 6 months.
Conduct: "Indifferent."
Not in possession of any Good Conduct badges. Has been five times tried by Court-martial.
Aged 25 years 7 months on discharge.
Awarded a pension of 6d. per day, "for six months only," on discharge. Intending to live in Dublin, and was still there in 1875.
From a Medical Board report, dated the 23rd of March 1894, which was held at the Royal Infirmary, Dublin:
"As to his capabilities, he is incapable of earning a livelihood, or contributing towards his maintenance. He follows no employment, his earnings are nil, and he has earned nothing during the last twelve months. . ."
Pension letters are noted to the 13th of May 1894 — the last of these confirming an increase of pension to 18d. per day.
Medals
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Commemorations
Although a pensioner of the Roberts Fund he is not known to have ever been a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society or to have ever attended any of the veterans' functions.
Life after service
[RM/PB, Dec 2014: George Badger, Matthew Holland, Patrick Doolan and Henry Mugg featured in an advertorial for "Doan's Backache Kidney Pills", in the Sunderland Daily Echo, 25 March 1903. It is likely this appeared elsewhere. Their crudely engraved portraits, each enclosed in an oval mount, emphasises their medals. In the accompanying article, each man describes how the arduousness of their military lives had severely damaged them, but "Doan's Backache Kidney Pills" soon put them right again. Notice George Badger's pain was "like a sword thrust". ]
Advertorial for "Doan's Backache Kidney Pills", featuring George Badger, Patrick Doolan, Henry Mugg, and Matthew Holland, published in the Sunderland Daily Echo, 25th of March 1903.
(Click on images to enlarge)
PERSONALLY CONGRATULATED BY QUEEN VICTORIA
Mr Patrick Doolan, of 6, Great Charles Street, Dublin, who served in the King's Royal Irish Hussars, fought at the Battle of the Alma, and the Siege of Sevastopol, as well as the Charge of Balaclava. In the latter memorable engagement a bullet passed right through Mr Doolan's head, and it was a miracle that his life was saved.
When her late Majesty Queen Victoria visited the hospital in which Mr Doolan lay, his case was specially referred to, and the good Queen heartily shook the invalid's hand, expressing her wonder at his marvellous recovery.
What Mr Doolan says.
"Since leaving the service I have been a coachman, and some time ago I had the misfortune to catch a severe cold. This left my back very weak and painful, and I knew that my kidneys were not well. At last the pain got so bad that I could hardly bear it. I had doctors and tried many medicines, but couldn't get well. After I had been using your Doan's Backache Kidney Pills a few days I got relief, and now I can say that the medicine has quite cured me. I am all right again, and can get about the same as ever."
"PATRICK DOOLAN"
Death & burial
Died in Dublin on the 7th of August 1904.
He died at No. 16 Upper Buckingham Street, North Dublin, from "Enteritis, (5 days.)". His son, Francis Doolan, of the same address, was present at, and the informant of, his death.
He was shown as being 70 years of age, a widower and an Army pensioner. (See copy of his death certificate in the "Certificates" file.
Extract from the Broad Arrow of the 20th of August 1904:
"On the 9th inst. the funeral took place of Patrick Doolan, formerly of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars.
He served in the Crimea and took part in the battle of the Alma, and was in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, where he was severely wounded by a ball passing through his jaw, and in passage injuring the tongue and palate, and but for the cleverness of the surgeon, he would have lost his life.
Doolan spoke frequently of the gallantry of a Major in his Regiment who, at great risk to himself, dismounted, and dragged him out of the range of fire."
He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, on the 9th of August 1904 in Grave No. HL-169. No headstone was erected. (See photograph of his grave-site in the 8th Hussar file. )
Further detailed medal information archived