Found over 30 years ago while someone was out walking in a field in Lucan, County Dublin. The medal, which is a bit worse for wear, apparently had its original red coloured silk ribbon on it when found. While we may never know the circumstances as to why the medal was in a field, this is the story of the man behind the medal.
Andrew Burne was born at the start of the Great Famine in 1845 in the parish of Killurin, just outside Tullamore, King’s County (Offaly). Andrew enlisted for service in the 10th Regiment of Foot at Dublin on 17 January 1863. Upon enlisting, Andrew was recorded as being 5 foot 6 inches tall. He had no previous trade.
Private Burne’s service was as follows:
Home: 17 Jan 1863 - 23 Sept 1864 Cape of Good Hope: 24 Sept 1864 - 18 Jan 1868 Japan: 19 Jan 1868 - 7 Aug 1871 China: 8 Aug 1871 - 17 Nov 1872 Straits Settlements: 18 Nov 1872 - 26 April 1877 Home: 27 April 1877 - 5 Jan 1884 Home: 6 Jan 1884 - 22 Jan 1884
For service during the Perak War (1875-76) in Malaysia, Private Burne received the Indian General Service medal with the clasp ‘Perak’. He later received the Long Service & Good Conduct medal.
Private Burne married Margaret Grey in Manchester on 23 Nov 1877. Private Burne was discharged after his second term of engagement which ended in January 1884. He recorded on the English 1901 census as a boarder in 56, Norton Street, South Manchester. His profession listed as a railway carriage cleaner. His wife and possible children living elsewhere.
Andrew returned to Ireland sometime after as unusually Andrew Burne is a unique name on the Irish 1911 census. He is recorded as a widowed army pensioner and as a boarder in a house on Harbour Lane, Banagher, King’s County. Andrew died on 21 February 1915 in Birr Workhouse, he was likely being treated in the hospital here. At the time of posting the location of Andrew's grave is a mystery.
References
English 1901 Census
Irish 1911 Census
National Archives, WO 97