Description
Ashanti Star, named in correct regimental style to 3461 Private Alexander Kearns, 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, an Irishman from Dublin, his only earned medal. Engraved on the reverse arms in the correct regimental style seen to this unit: Reading counter-clockwise: “3461 L. CPL. A. KEARNS. 2. W. YORKS R.”
According to a WW1 era Medal Index Card dated 1927, LCpl Kearns later applied for a “Dup. Ashanti Star 1896 issued on Payment” dated 16th September 1927. However, this would have been unnamed and this medal should be the misplaced original issue.
As this man was discharged in 1896 due to almost complete deafness it would appear that he was likely forced to sell or pawn the medal in his younger years to make ends meet, his medical discharge records that he “Will be able to earn a livelihood as a labourer, though the deafness will place him at a disadvantage.” (He also had a wife and no less than 7 children to support by 1911.) The Dublin General Advertiser, also recall the family had various debts.
Alexander Kearns, was born by the coast in Dublin on 7th December 1873, in what at the time was called “Kingstown”, taken from the previous name Dunleary, since 1920 it is now known as Dun Laoghaire. He was born into a Roman Catholic Family, the son of Peter Kerans and Mary (Anderson) At Dublin, on 10th January 1893, he attested for service with the West Yorkshire Regiment. This was not his first attempt, the stated to be 18 years and 10 month old Alexander had previously been rejected from the Army: “As Temporarily Unfit.”
On 10th January 1893, he was signed on with the West Yorkshire Regiment, having attempted to join the 8th Royal Irish Hussars instead, but this was crossed through in favour of the West Yorks Regiment. Posted to 1st Battalion on 7th April 1893, soon after promoted to Lance Corporal on 2nd October 1893. Posted to 2nd Battalion as Lance Corporal on 29th March 1894. Discharged as Medically unfit for further service on 21st July 1896.
His overseas service: Home, 10th January 1893 – 8th March 1894 East Indies, 9th March 1894 – 23rd November 1895 Gibraltar, 24th November 1895 – 10th December 1895 Africa West Coast, 11th December 1895 – 23rd fFebruary 1896 Home, 24th Feb 1896 – 21st July 1896.
He received an education with the Army, passing his 3rd Class Certificate of Education at York on 23rd March 1893, followed by his 2nd Class on 1st October 1894. He passed his class of instruction for “Promotion to Corporal” on 5th September 1895. His campaigns served and medals earned note: “CAMPAIGNS, Ashanti Expeditionary Force 1895-96” “MEDALS – Entitled to Ashanti Star 1895-96.”
Upon returning back home from the West Coast of Africa, he was found unfit for further service. The full medical report in his papers not that he “Habits are regular, conduct good, temperate.” But he was suffering from “Deafness” “States that in his youth he was subject to earaches and found he could not hear well, but it became suddenly much worse on arrival at Coomassie.”
“Present Condition, he cannot hear anyone speak unless the voice is very loud and cannot hear the tick of a watch placed up to his ear, it is not possible to estimate the deafness was caused by service or climate as there is only the present statement for it.”
“There is a probability that the Deafness may have been increased by exposure in the climate when going to Ashanti.” “It may have been aggravated by the exposure of active service in a climate.” Is it permanent? – It was stated that he “Will be able to earn a livelihood as a labourer, though the deafness will place him at a disadvantage.”
With his discharge, he returned back home to Kingstown Dublin in Ireland. Not long after arriving back home he married Julia Clarke on 4th February 1898 in Kingstown. By 1901 the family was settled at House 43, Cross Avenue, Kingstown, Dublin, where a 27 year old Alexander Kearns lived with his wife and already had 2 children. He was working as a “Yardman in Stores” The 1911 Census shows him as 37 years old living at Wolfe Tone Avenue in Kingstown No 3 Dublin, where he had 7 children (2 sons and 5 daughters) living at home with he and his wife, along with a Lodger. He was working as a Storeman and Timekeeper for the Lighthouse Service.
As noted earlier, life in Dublin, especially for a Deaf man with many children in the period was not easy. The General Advertiser for Dublin, 3rd March 1906 reads the following notice: “TO AL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN TAKE NOTICE THAT I, ALEXANDER KEARNS, 37 Wolfe Tone Avenue, Kingstown, on and after this date will not be responsible for any Debts contracted by my Wife or others.”
During 1908 the Wicklow Advertiser also recalls him signing as a Witness a letter for a Neighbour Mrs Bridget Gleeson (Who could not read or write) in a lengthy local eviction case, it appears he was helping out his neighbour, thanks to his Army received education. Alexander died in Dun Laoghaire (Formerly Kingstown) Dublin aged 63 on 13th December 1936, he is now buried in Deans Grange Cemetery, Dun Laoghaire.
