Birkenhead
survivors
Bernard Kilkeary
COLOUR SERGEANT KILKEARY was born at
Parsonstown King’s County Ireland in 1827 and joined the Army at an early age.
He served 12 years and 201 days with the colours and afterwards for 20 years
in the Auxiliary Forces his last corps being the Mid Ulster Artillery of which
he was Paymaster Sergeant. In 1902 he was living at Dungannon County Tyrone.
Thirty years of his thirty two as a serving soldier were in non commissioned rank. His
active service included the Kaffir War 1852-53 the expedition across the Orange
River to Wasteland (battle of Berea) and the Indian Mutiny.
He was with the draft of the 73rd Regiment on
the Birkenhead and aboard the cutter assisting with the rescue of the
women and children as the she sank. A
heavy sea was running at the time and after about twelve hours of standing out
to sea they were all picked up by the schooner Lioness of Capetown.
The Lioness put out a boat to search for other survivors picking up some
40 or 50 who were clinging to the floating rigging.
Birkenhead
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