Research on No. 3048 Sergeant Major Jeremiah Moynihan shows the following
general information, dates of rank, campaign service, and army appointments
related to his 21 years 256 days (1854-1875) service in the British Army:
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Birth & Enlistment:
Jeremiah Moynihan was born in the Parish of Newington, near the Town
of London, in the County of Surrey, in August of 1831. At the age 21 years
and 6 months, he enlisted in the 33rd Regiment at London on the
14th of February 1854. He was assigned the regimental number
3048.
Physical Description:
Sergeant Major Moynihan's physical description at the time of his discharge
shows that he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, had a fresh complexion, blue eyes,
and dark brown hair. He was 43 years and 2 months old at the time of his
final discharge at Dublin on the 11th of October 1875. His trade is listed
as a labourer. His religious denomination is not listed.
Medical Information:
His medical record is signed as a blank form in his soldiers documents.
He was not wounded during any of his active service.
Army Promotion, Conduct, & Education:
Jeremiah Moynihan was appointed a Private on the 14th of February
1854. He would rise through the ranks very rapidly. He was promoted to Corporal
on the 1st of July 1855 after serving as a Private for 1 year
134 days. On the 6th of June 1856 he was promoted to Sergeant after only
189 days as a Corporal. He ran afoul of military regulations and was confined
on the 25th of July 1856. He was tried by Court Martial on the
27th of July 1856 and reduced to Private. It is interesting that
this Court Martial is mentioned in his detailed statement of services but
is not mentioned in the statement of his character and conduct where there
are specific instructions for mentioning trial by Court Martial. There is
also no mention of his name appearing in the Regimental Defaulters Book
during his entire period of service.
He was again promoted to Corporal on the 23rd of May 1858 after holding the rank of Private for 2 years 299 days. Corporal Moynihan received his first Good Conduct pay on the 16th of February 1859 and after this he would have received regular good conduct pays throughout his service had he not been promoted. At the time of his discharge he would have been in possession of five Good Conduct badges. He was promoted to Sergeant on the 25th of June 1860. At unspecified times during his rise though the ranks he would earn a 3rd and a 2 nd Class Certificate of Education.
On the 1st of March 1864 he re-engaged at Poona to extended his service
to years with the Colours to 21 years. On the 14th of July 1868
he was appointed to Colour Sergeant after having served as a Sergeant for
just over eight years. On the 1st of November 1871 he was appointed
Sergeant Major of the 33rd Regiment of Foot and would serve in
this position for 3 years 355 days until his discharge in 1875.
Overseas & Campaign Service:
Sergeant Major Moynihan's overseas and campaign service includes the
following. He served as Private, Corporal and Sergeant in the Crimea for
1 year and 8 months. He received the Crimean Medal with the clasp for Sebastopol,
and the Turkish Crimean Medal, both named to him as a Sergeant, serial number
3078. He was lucky to have survived the storms, the cold, the illness, and
the battles of the .
After the Crimean War he was to serve in Mauritius for 3 months and then
proceeding to India where he would serve for 10 years and 3 months. Most
of this service was as a Sergeant.
He would again serve on active service in the Abyssinia Expedition of
1868. He held the rank of Colour Sergeant during this service and his Abyssinian
Medal is so named. After this campaign his regiment returned home.
He would received the Long Service Good Conduct Medal in August of 1871
with a five pound gratuity. He would be promoted to Sergeant Major in October
of this year. This medal was relinquished when the Meritorious Service Medal
was awarded in accordance with the regulations then in effect. This was
changed in 1900 when both awards could be held simultaneously.
His Army Meritorious Service Medal, Victorian issue, is inscribed as
a Sergeant Major, late 33rd Foot.
Marriage Information:
His papers show no record of marriage.
Discharge Statement:
Sergeant Major Jeremiah Moynihan was discharge at Dublin in consequence of, "having claimed it on termination of his second period of limited engagement." At the time of discharge his character was listed as, "very good." Clearly in order to obtain the rank of Sergeant Major, receive a Long Service Good Conduct Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal, Jeremiah Moynihan would have been an efficient non commissioned officer, zealous in the performance of all his duties, trustworthy, and sober. His intended residence at the time of discharge is listed as Keith, Banffshire, Scotland.