Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Corunna, Java (Thos. Holohan, 59th Foot) toned, nearly extremely fine and rare £1800-2200

Provenance: Glendining’s, December 1929 and July 1957; J. B. Hayward, March 1977.

Only 6 medals issued with clasps for Corunna and Java, all with this two-clasp combination, 3 to the 14th Foot and 3 to the 59th Foot.

Thomas Holohan (Hollohan on papers) was born in the Parish of Ballanakell, Queen’s County, and enlisted for the 59th Foot at Antrim on 1 October 1807, aged 18 years. He served in the East Indies from August 1810 to April 1827, and was discharged on 29 May 1827, in consequence of ‘lameness of the left leg from a sabre wound, general health poor - a troublesome drunkard but he has proved himself a brave soldier before the enemy and wounded in the head and left leg at the storming of Bhurtpore 1826.’ Admitted to an out-pension in May 1827, he died at Cork on 2 September 1852. Holohan is also entitled to the medal for Bhurtpore. Sold with copied discharge papers.