HC Deb 20 November 1906 vol 165 cc605-6
MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that William Geoghegan, Tullamore, an old Crimean soldier, is at present subsisting on 1s. 6d. per week out door relief granted him by the local board of guardians; that Geoghegan was wounded in Sebastopol, and his brother killed at Inkerman; and, seeing that Geoghegan is 74 years of age and no longer able to work, and holds a medal for bravery at Sebastopol, will he say what course ho proposes to take in this case to relieve the local rates from the cost of supporting this old soldier.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) Haddington

I have been in communication with the hon. Member on this case. It appears from the man's records that he did not land in the Crimea till October, 1855, nearly a month after the siege was over, and was therefore not entitled to receive the Crimean medal. The statement that he was wounded in Sebastopol is quite uncorroborated. The Crimean medal stated to be in his possession was not issued to him by this Department, and, moreover, he informed the Chelsea Commissioners in 1902 that he had lost his Crimean medal. Under these circumstances Geoghegan is not entitled to a pension.