taken almost two-thirds of the ridge. The guns were then moved up and the red- coated men of the 94th Mounted Infantry under Lieutenant O'Grady advanced. As Limerick. I checked the annals and history they approached the Boer positions, many of the Christian Brothers in Limerick, of the men daubed their white helmets which dated from June 1816, and consul- with mud to make themselves less con- ted survey maps of the period, but 1 was spicuous. At 10 am, the men of Nourse's unable to locate ANY school on Edward Horse were close to the enemy kraals and in Limerick on 9th January 1919 and has Street. schanzes, and the Scots Fusiliers were no memorial. As a military historian, this It is logical to assume that John brought in to support them. Suddenly a was news to me. I had never come across Danagher, baptised in the parish of St. large party of Boers were seen coming the story of a VC recipient buried in Mary's, attended the Christian Brothers over Quagga's Poort, from the eastern Limerick, more especially buried in an school in Quay Lane. The school, origin- side of Pretoria. Most of the Carbineers unmarked grave. I contacted The Victoria ally the city court house in St. Mary's had left their post to aid the 49th Cross and George Cross Association, Parish, was purchased from Limerick Regiment. Soon afterwards, further Boers London, with the intention of obtaining Corporation by the Christian Brothers and reinforcements from the southern area any information they held on John opened as a school in February 1845. came over the Nek. Colonel Bellairs CB, Danagher VC. All the Association had on John Danagher went to South Africa to and his aide-de-camp arrived and ordered file was the citation for the Award and very 'seek his fortune' soon after completing Colonel Gildea to withdraw his forces. little else. The only other information they his schooling. In 1877 the Crown annexed Nourse's Horse did this, reluctantly, as had on him stated that he was born in the Transvaal and opposition to this move they were subjected to intensive fire from Limerick in 1860. grew among the Boers, culminating in the Boers who, emboldened by the retire- Mrs. D. Graham, MVO, Secretary of First Boer War and the besieging of ment, came out from cover. One man of the Association, in the course of corres- British garrisons, including that at Nourse's Horse was killed and three pondence, requested me to do some Pretoria. One of the colonial units raised wounded. The column then formed up, the research into his background and if I was in defence of Pretoria by the pro-British Mounted Infantry and Carbineers on the successful they would be grateful for any population was Nourse's Horse. Among centre and left, Nourse's Horse on the information I could supply for their the 60 men to sign on was a 20-year-old right front and flank. As the column left it records. This was a challenge I could not Limerickman, John Danaher. was discovered that three men were refuse. On 16th January 1881, a mounted missing, two fusiliers and one man of the There are no documented civil records column under Colonel Gildea left Pretoria 94th. They were believed to be lying available in Ireland before 1864. One has at dawn. Seven miles out, an orderly of wounded at the base of Elandsfontein to depend on church records for infor- Nourse's Horse galloped up and told them Ridge. Twelve mounted infantrymen from mation earlier than that date and they are that a number of Boers were occupying a the 94th Regiment and four men of extremely accurate. There is only one strong position on the slopes of Elandsfon- Nourse's Horse dismounted and took recorded John Danagher baptism in the tein Ridge. Colonel Gildea led the column cover. They deployed in skirmishing order City of Limerick for the year 1860. The to the neighbourhood of the ridge and when 60 Boers opened fire from some baptismal records in St. Mary's Catholic deployed his forces: the 94th Mounted bushes 600 yards away. Directly ahead of church, Athlunkard Street, includes an Infantry, the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, the the Boers and some 100 yards from them, entry stating that John Danagher was Carbineers and Nourse's Horse. The lay the two wounded fusiliers, Byrne and baptised there on 15th May 1860, the son Carbineers under Captain Sanctuary were Davis. Two men mounted on the right of of Patrick Danagher and Bridget Tuohy. to guard Quagga's Poort, whereas men of the skirmishing party and rode toward the The baptismal registers of St. Mary's Nourse's Horse under Glynne were to Boers' position. One was John Danagher Catholic church, begun in 1745, contain ascend the ridge and assault the enemy. of Nourse's Horse and the other was the date of baptism (not birth), parents' The Boers were spread along the ridge, Lance Corporal James Murray of the names, sponsors names and name of the but concentrated in an area near two stone Connaught Rangers. As they left, Murray's priest who administered the sacrament. kraals and schanzes (wall structures). As horse was shot under him, but he Baptism took place very soon after birth, the 25 men of Glynne's force advanced, continued on foot. They advanced into the because of the high rate of infant mortality, the enemy opened a heavy fire. At 8 am, heavy fire for 500 yards before reaching sometimes on the same day as birth, but one of the British 9-pounders opened up the men. Danagher and Murray found one seldom more than a few days afterwards. and bombarded the ridge for 20 minutes. man dead and the other wounded in the Zkk Winners of the Victoria Cross also The Boers were scattered and many head. Murray stopped to raise Byrne's states that Danagher was educated at the sought refuge behind the kraal walls. head and, while kneeling, was shot in his Christian Brothers School, Edward Street, Nourse's men advanced until they had right side. He collapsed beside the man he Old St. Mary's church (Limerick Museum) had come to rescue. Realising it would be presentation of the Victoria Cross to coffin was draped with the Union Jack useless for Danagher to proceed with the Danaher. Before retiring from the army he with his VC pinned on it. It was conveyed rescue in the face of such heavy fire, was recommended for Meritorious Service to the grave on an army gun carriage Murray ordered him to take the rifles and by General Sir Archibald Hunter. He also drawn by a pair of horses, escorted by an retire. Danagher stood for a few moments held the Long Service and Good Conduct outrider. Four sergeants from the over his fallen companion, fired a few Medal. Shortly after, John married Bridget Connaught Rangers sent from Dover and shots at the enemy, then gathered up all Connolly and was stationed for a time in two sergeants from the Leinster Regiment the rifles and calmly marched back to his Templemore, Co. Tipperary, where his acted as pallbearers. The service was lines. Byrne died before the Boers could son Patrick was born and baptised on 28th conducted by Father Twomey. Three reach him. Murray and Davis were taken November 1886, in the church of the volleys were fired over the grave and four with Byrne's body on an oxhide to the Sacred Heart. Sergeants sounded the Last Post. John Boer camp on the mountaintop. They The entry for John Danaher in the was buried in Milton Cemetery, Ports- were well treated and, because of their Richard Doherty & David Truesdale book, mouth, Plot M, Row 1, Grave 6. He had wounds, the Boer Commandant allowed Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross, served in 2nd Battalion, Connaught them to return to Pretoria under a flag of indicates that he died in Ireland on 9th Rangers for 27 years, of which 19 were truce. Byrne's body was also returned. January 1919, and has no memorial. spent in Egypt and India, retiring with the Davis died five days after returning to the My research indicates that after rank of Sergeant in 1908 and resided in garrison. retiring from the army, he went to live in Portsmouth. In March 1881, Danagher resigned Portsmouth, England, and in 1911 he John Danagher VC was the father of from Nourse's Horse, which was dis- became the licensee of The Falcon public one daughter and eight sons. Six of his banded following the end of the Siege of house, 74 King's Rd., Southsea. He next sons sewed during the First World War: Pretoria. He subsequently joined the 2nd became the licensee of The Dog & Duck, Patrick, a Sergeant, died of wounds at Battalion, The Connaught Rangers on 115 Fratton Road, Landport, Portsmouth. Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, whilst serving with 23rd April 1881, giving his trade as groom. After a long illness, John died in on 9th 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers on Colonel Gildea recommended both January 1919. The Evening News (Ports- 232nd August 1915. He has no known Danagher and Murray for the Victoria mouth) on the 11th January 1919 carried grave and is commemorated on Special Cross and his report was supported by his obituary: DANAGHER; on January 9th, Memorial B.2., 7th Field Ambulance Lieutenant O'Grady of the 94th. Danagher 1919 at the Dog and Duck, Fratton Road, Cemetery, Turkey, and on the WWI returned to Ireland with his regiment and John Danagher VC, late 2nd Connaught Memorial Plaque in St. John's Roman on 23rd August 1882, Earl Spencer KG, Rangers, the dearly beloved husband of Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth. 5th Earl and Viceroy of Ireland, paraded Bridget Danagher, passed peacefilly away, John Joseph also served with the all the troops of the Curragh and New- aged 58 years. R. I. P. Connaught Rangers during WWI. He bridge on the General Parade Ground, His body lay overnight in St. John's retired as a Sergeant Major and died 16th Curragh Camp, in order to witness the Cathedral, Edinburgh Road, Portsea. His January 1936. Francis, a Corporal, served with the Later that day it was noted that the Royal Munster Fusiliers during WWI and garrisons of the south forts were was a prisoner of war for four years. abandoning them and the Allies soon George, a Lieutenant in the Royal crossed the river and occupied them, Munster Fusiliers during WWI, was capturing 400 guns. During the assault on wounded in France. the North Fort, 17 British soldiers were Arthur served as a Captain in the killed and 22 officers and 161 men Indian Army during WWI. wounded. Arnbrose served with the 6th Hamp- Lieutenant Burslem was wounded in shire Regiment in WWI. three places during the assault on the fort On the death of John Danagher, the and was mentioned in despatches. r tenancy of the Dog and Duck was taken In 1860, after British and French troaps over by his widow, Bridget, who retained had occupied Peking and burned the it until her death on 24th January 1936. Summer Palace, the Chinese finally The Dog and Duck public house is now the agreed to ratify the Treaty of Tientsin, site of the National Westminster Bank, which had been signed in 1858. The Fratton Rd., Portsmouth. Opium Wars resulted in massive gains in The Hampshire Telegraph of 16th both trading privileges and territory for November 1971 had the following: The Victoria Cross the British, including the acquisition of the Mrs. J. Danagher presented her father- Chinese territory of Kowloon and Stone- in-law's medals to the Army Museum. an immense explosion took place as a cutters Island and in 1898 they obtained result of a magazine being hit, but it was the New Territories under a 99-year lease. another hour before the Chinese guns Hong Kong was ceded to the British by were silenced. A storming party from the the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, which 44th and 67th Regiments was formed and ended the First Opium War. Later Nathaniel Burslem was born in Limerick the final guns were advanced to within negotiations legalized the importation of on 2nd February 1838, the son of George 500 yards of the uppermost fort of the opium. James Burslem of Staffordshire and Susan Chinese. The ladders placed against the Nathaniel Burslem was present at the Vokes of Limerick. They were married in walls were pulled into the fort or thrown surrender of Peking and was appointed Dublin on 15th March 1836. over. Several groups of men attempted to Captain on 20th November 1860. On 12th February 1858, Nathaniel was storm the embrasure made by the guns, For Acts of Bravery performed on 21st appointed Ensign in the 67th (South but they were forced back by heavy fire. August 1860, both he and Private Thomas Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. After initial At the same time, the Chinese fire was so Lane, 67th Regiment, were awarded the service in Britain, he was posted to China accurate that the Sappers could not lay %ctoria Cross. The London Gazette, 13th with the rank of Lieutenant, where he was down their pontoon bridges. At this point, August 1861 carried the citation: to win the Victoria Cross. Sir Robert Napier ordered the guns to be For distinguished gallantry in swimming In October 1856, Chinese authorities in brought up to within 30 yards of the gate the Ditches of the North Taku Fort, and Canton boarded the British ship Arrow in order to create a breach. A space suffic- persevering in attempting during the and charged its crew with smuggling. The ient to admit one man was soon made. The assault, and before the entrance of the Fort British, aided by the French, used the wall that the troops faced was protected by had been effected by anyone, to enlarge an incident to launch an offensive, precipit- two ditches, 20 feet apart and filled with opening in the wall, through which they ating the Second Opium War. water. Private Lane and Lieutenant eventually entered, and, in doing so, were A British Expeditionary Force under Burslem of the 67th Regiment displayed both severely wounded. General Sir Hope Grant landed at Pehtang great gallantry in swimming the ditches of Burslem received his VC from in the Gulf of Pechihli on 1st August 1860. the fort and attempting, during the assault Lieutenant General Sir W. F. Williams, After disembarking, the troops spent the and before an entrance had been effected KCB in September 1862. He was also the following days at Pehtang before advanc- by anyone, to enlarge an opening in the holder of the China Medal with clasps for ing on 12th August. After dispersing wall, through which they eventually Taku and Peking. enemy cavalry, the troops reached Sin-Ho, entered. In doing so, they were both In 1864 he retired through the sale of and two days later captured Tangku. After severely wounded. They were among the his commission. The following year, with the Battle of Tangku, the Allies proceeded first British troops established on the his brother John Godolphin Burslem, he to attack the Taku Forts. The British were walls of the fort. The first man in was a moved to New Zealand where he took up to attack the uppermost fort on the left Frenchman, who climbed to the top of the farming. He died in July 1865 when he bank of the Peiho River, about two miles parapet where for some time he stood drowned in the Thames River near from Tangku. On 20th August 1860 alone, firing rifles that were passed up to Auckland, while attempting to cross the artillery batteries were brought up to him by his comrades. He was soon waters in a small sailing boat. His body within 800 yards of the fort. Later that day speared to death. Another Frenchman, was washed ashore on 14th July and was the Chinese opened fire from the fort. The pick-axe in hand, attempted to cut away buried soon after in an unknown location. Chinese bombardment was answered by the top of the wall. He was shot and His Victoria Cross is currently dis- salvoes from Armstrong guns at 2000 Lieutenant Burslem caught hold of his played in the Royal Hampshire Regiment yards range, which soon silenced the fort's pick and continued the work. Meanwhile, Museum, Winchester, England. guns. During the night, batteries were Lieutenant Rogers of the 44th Regiment constructed for the heavy guns and was attempting to scale the wall, with little SOURCES: mortars, which were then put in place success until Lieutenant Lenon of the 67th Recommendations concerning officers and ready for an assault the following day. It came to his aid. Lenon forced his sword men for operations at the Taku Forts, China, had been arranged with the Navy that into the wall, allowing Rogers to use it to W032/7356, PRO, Burslem VC File, B114 Box 11, VC and GC Collection, Department of gunboats would cross the bar of the river lever himself up onto the wall and through the embrasure. He then assisted Lenon in Documents, Imperial War Museum, London; that morning and engage the outer North Mrs. D. Grahame MVO, The Victoria Cross and Fort and the flanks of the outer South Fort lowering the drawbridge to the fort. Other George Cross Association, Horse Guards, at the same time as the attack on the inner British troops soon followed, crossing a Whitehall, London; The London Gazette, 13th North Fort began. At 5 am, however, the nearby French pontoon bridge. The August 1861; The Register of the Victorka Cross, Chinese opened fire upon the troops from garrison was soon driven back and the fort This England Books, Cheltenham, 1988; all their forts and the guns of the allies captured. Soon afterwards the outer fort Regimental History, The Royal Hampshire were forced to reply an hour earlier than was attacked and captured. Over 2000 Regiment, Vol 1, 1702-1914, C.T. Atkinson, The had been intended. About an hour later, Tartars were captured during the action. University Press, Glasgow, 1950.