I'm researching a William John Brannan who is remembered on a memorial plaque in what was the Royal Albert Asylum, Lancaster. From a newspaper report of the plaque's unveiling, he was born in 1875, and when aged ten was admitted to the asylum - it was for children who would now be classed as having a learning disability - and remained for seven years, which was usually the maximum period of time that children were allowed to stay there. He'd done well at school and in the workshop, but was unable to get employment after leaving, circa 1892, and then enlisted in the 13th Hussars, a cavalry regiment. I quote from what someone else has commented about his enlistment: - "Should a man pass the Medical, recruit training for the Cavalry was rigorous. Recruits spent some six to eight months in preliminary drill (gymnastics, fencing and stable work) then ninety to 120 hours of riding drill, saddling, packing and the use of arms on horseback. Then the recruits had to do the same musketry course as the foot soldiers. Once qualified, a cavalryman had a much more arduous schedule; caring for horses on a daily basis and maintaining saddlery and stables." It's possible that Brannan was accepted into the regiment more as an orderly, doing general duties in stables, etc., rather than as an active trooper.
The regiment sailed to South Africa in December 1899, and took part in the battle of Colenso during the Boer War. However, Brannan wasn't present at the battle as his posthumous medal award shows. Later he was given employment as a military hospital orderly, where he died of enteric fever on 13th May 1900.
He was posthumously awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with a 'Natal' clasp; this would presumably have been sent to whoever he had nominated as his next-of-kin.
The only William John Brannan to appear in the GRO birth registrations in 1875 was born in the Brampton Registration District. Other than the name, I have no link between the Brampton Brannan and the Army's Brannan, at least until I can access the Lancashire Record Office to check the asylum's admission records, so I'm at a dead-end (temporary, I hope). Can anyone help with anything on the Brannan family in the Brampton area? I've checked some of the Carlisle newspapers for the period following his death, without finding any mention of it, and it's possible that his family weren't notified of it for some time.
I've written up what I know of his life and death, with a photograph of the plaque, and am happy to add a link to it here, if that's allowed.
