McCARTHY, Dennis. Afghanistan medal and Good Conduct medal.

Died 01/06/1906 Age 86. Private, 41st Welch Regiment of Foot, Service Number 1337. Son of Florence McCarthy and Mary McCarthy (nee Lee) of Bandon, Cork. His widow Jane (nee Dickson) of 24 St Mary’s Gate, Derby. Afghanistan and Good Conduct Medals. Served in 1st Afghanistan campaign, India and West Indies. Plot: B1 / 42663

Dennis McCarthy was born in Cork and served in the British army in Afghanistan, India and the West Indies before settling in Derby with his family. As a senior veteran he was on parade for the King's visit in 1906, however the weather was inclement and he caught a cold and succumbed shortly afterwards - all reported in the Derby newspapers of the time. His 1906 Nottingham Road funeral was also reported at length with the list of mourners, and their hierarchy in the carriages.

Dennis's numerous children, some born whilst he served in the West Indies and some in Derby, also featured frequently in the Derby newspapers - usually the magistrates court reports! His son James was convicted numerous times for "knocking on doors", "throwing stones", "breaking and entering", "loitering",  "obstruction"  and found in the 1891 Census as an inmate in Derby Jail.  Another son, also called Dennis McCarthy, buried in Nottingham Road plot A1/*/2320F in 1941, became a publican in Derby and was soon before the bench who declined to believe his story that the lid had been left off the gin pot on a rainy night, finding that he had been watering the gin. 

Information provided by 2nd great grandson Theo Ward.