Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Ens. Francis Finiran, 2nd Batt. 69th Reg. Foot) fitted with replacement silver bar suspension, rank engraved, remainder of naming correctly impressed but lightly rubbed overall, some edge bruises and light contact marks, otherwise good very fine £1200-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of medals to the 41st and 69th Regiments of Foot (The Welch Regiment) formed by the late colonel Dudley Thornton, CBE.

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Ex Spink August 1958 and sold with original invoice.

Francis Feneran (also noted as Finiran and Fineran) was born at Kinsale, County Cork, on 22 March 1790, and enlisted into the 2/69th Regiment on 16 May 1810, aged 20. He was promoted to Colour-Sergeant in December 1814 and fought at Waterloo in that rank. Feneran’s expectations of obtaining a commission, as evidenced by the altered rank on his medal, were clearly frustrated by circumstances and events beyond his control, as explained in the following note on his ‘Return of Service’, which states:

‘Having been disappointed in obtaining an Ensigncy in the Army and in consequence of promises made by his Friend Sir Thomas Browne who commanded the 2 Bn 69 Regt., he was induced to engage for a term of 7 years and was at once appointed Serjeant and Paymasters Clerk [2 July 1810]. Sir Thomas having been removed to India to command the 1 Battn. - he there recommended him for the Quartermastership vacant early in 1815 but was advised by Col. Morris Commg. the 2 Battn. not to accept it as he intended to recommend him for a better appointment. The gallant Colonel fell at Waterloo. The 2 Battn. was disbanded. As there appeared no prospect of promotion, when there existed so numerous a half pay list his friends would not permit him to re-engage. In July 1822 he was recommended by Lord Beresford for the Quartermastership of the 69th Regt. then vacant but as delay occurred in sending in his name it was filled otherwise, but the Commander in Chief promised him the first vacancy that would occur in the Army. However he was not appointed until December 1823. He afterwards made several unsuccessful applications to be removed to an Ensigncy although strongly recommended by his Commanding Officer.’

Francis Feneran finally received his commission, as Quartermaster to the 95th Regiment, on 1 December 1823, becoming Paymaster in the same regiment in December 1837. He became Paymaster to the Depot Battalion in April 1854 and received promotion to Major (Honorary) in January 1860 and to Lieutenant-Colonel (Honorary) in August 1870. Lieutenant-Colonel Feneran last appears in the Monthly Army Lists in 1877.