Orders, Decorations and Medals

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (1123 Corpl J. Graham, 90th Foot) renamed in a contemporary style, nearly very fine £600-800

The intriguing case of Daniel Sheehan, 6th Foot, alias James Graham, 90th Light Infantry, has been the subject of two articles in the OMRS Journal. Daniel Sheehan was born near Cork in July 1851, and enlisted for the 6th Foot in December 1870. By early 1876 he had been promoted to Sergeant but, later that same year, he went absent for a week and was sentenced to be reduced in the ranks to Private. In December 1876 he passed into the Reserve for a further six years service in the Liverpool District but, for reasons unknown, he went to Ireland and re-enlisted at Bin into the 90th Foot, changing his name to James Graham. Army Records caught up with him inside the month and, after two months in confinement, he was convicted of fraudulent enlistment and put in Military Prison until June 1877. Private Graham went to South Africa with the 90th Foot in January 1878 to take part in the war against the Gaikas and Galekas, but the army were not finished with him yet. In April 1878, while still in the field, he was again tried by court martial for desertion from Liverpool District, forfeiting the 6 years service which Daniel Sheehan had accumulated for pension and good conduct. Four months later he was promoted to Corporal, in which rank he is recorded as being present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift in January 1879. How he came to be there is a mystery but his presence is confirmed by Lieutenant Chard and by Colour-Sergeant Bourne on his amended roll. Furthermore, his service papers state ‘Present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift 22.1.79’. He subsequently went to India with his regiment and was finally discharged there as a Colour-Sergeant in December 1891, his former service and pension entitlements having been restored to him in the intervening years. History does not record the circumstances that caused his medal to be renamed but of one thing we are certain - Corporal Graham was the only member of the 90th Foot to be present at the historic defence of Rorke’s Drift. Sold with a large quantity of additional research.