Deputy Inspector-General William Connolly, R.N

"DEATHS IN THE SERVICES
Deputy Inspector-General WVilliam Connolly, R.N. (ret.), the
oldest living naval officer, died at Kingstown, Dublin, on
March 16th, at the great age of 102. He was born on
April 11th, 1831, was educated in Dublin, and took the
L.R.C.S.I. in 1856 and the M.D.St. Andrews in 1862. He
entered the Navy on September 25th, 1856, just at the end
of the Crimean War, was promoted to staff surgeon on July
27th, 1867, to fleet surgeon on December 25th, 1878, and
retired on April 11thi, 1886, with an honorary step of rank
as deputy inspector-general. He served on H.M.S. Calcutta,
flagship, in the China WNar of 1857-8, attendirng wounded
from the actioins at Fatshan and Canton (medal) in the
New Zealand War, from Julv 7th to October 2nd, 1860, as
senior medical officer of the Naval Brigade under Commodore
Loring and Captain Beauchamp Seymour (medal), and as
fleet surgeon of H.M.S. Euphrates in the Zulu War of 1879
(medal). He leaves eight children."

Guest

William Connolly, M.D.

11 Apr 1831 Born in Ireland

25 Sep 1856 Entered the navy as an Assistant Surgeon (title of ‘Assistant Surgeon’ changed to ‘Surgeon’ in 1873)

Feb 1857 Appointed to HMS Calcutta

1857-8 Served in the China War; China Medal

10 Sep 1858 Assistant Surgeon on HMS Elk (Sloop, Australia Station)

26 Apr 1859 Assistant Surgeon on HMS Iris (Australia Station) 1860 he served in medical charge of the Naval Brigade at Taranaki in the Maori War; New Zealand Medal

1 Jan 1862 Assistant Surgeon on HMS Royal Adelaide (Flag Ship, Devonport)

1863 Assistant Surgeon serving on HMS Prince Consort (Ironclad, Pembroke) forced into Kingston Harbor after being swamped in a gale, and in danger of sinking.

8 Jan 1864 Assistant Surgeon at Royal Marine Infirmary (Melville Hospital), Chatham

24 Aug 1865 Attacked by a prisoner, Private A. McCluskey. McCluskey had been sentenced to imprisonment the previous day for another charge, and had been taken to Melville Hospital to ascertain his fitness to undergo the imprisonment. McCluskey assaulted the doctor by striking him with his fist while in the waiting room of the hospital. The doctor’s assailant was given 50 lashes and 12 months imprisonment.

27 Jul 1867 Promoted to Staff Surgeon

24 Dec 1869 Staff Surgeon on HMS Terror (Floating Battery, Bermuda) for service in Bermuda Dockyard

Mar 1873 Arrived back in England on HMS Himalaya from Bermuda.

21 Aug 1873 Staff Surgeon on HMS Britannia (Training Ship for Naval Cadets, Dartmouth)

1874 Staff Surgeon on the Committee evaluating the conditions on HMS Britannia in which Naval Cadets were trained, specifically diet, ventilation, sleeping arrangements and the effect of confinement on a stationary ship. One of the Cadets who testified during the hearings was Lewis C. Coker.

Aug 1876 Staff Surgeon appointed to HMS Monarch

20 Mar 1878 Staff Surgeon on HMS Euphrates (Troopship) which provided reinforcements to South Africa during Zulu War, 1879; South Africa Medal, no clasp, confirmed on the Medal Roll

3 Mar 1879 Promoted to Fleet Surgeon while serving on board HMS Euphrates, with seniority to 25 Dec 1878

Nov 1881 Appointed Fleet Surgeon on HMS Repulse

2 May 1882 Fleet Surgeon on HMS Daedalus (Drill Ship for Royal Naval Reserve, Bristol)

25 Oct 1884 Fleet Surgeon the Duke of Wellington (Flagship, Portsmouth)

8 Apr 1886 Placed on the Retired List

11 Apr 1886 He was granted permission to assume the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets on the Retired List.

16 Mar 1934 Died, age 102, in Kingstown, County Dublin, Ireland

Petty Officer Tom