1st April 2017
Born 14th January 1823 Died 16th September 1861
Aged 37 years
Section 8
Captain John Hanham was killed by a single bullet at Fulwood Barracks, Preston in Lancashire in September 1861. According to a contemporary report, Capt Hanham and the commanding officer of the Fulwood depot, Col Hugh Crofton, were walking across the barracks square when a shot was fired, causing both to stagger and fall. The bullet shot from a rifle by Private Patrick McCaffrey, aged 19, passed right through the lungs of Col. Crofton, the chest of Capt. Hanham where it lodged in his back – upon extractions the bullet was found to be quite flat. Col. Crofton died instantly and Capt. Hanham a few days later. Private Patrick McCaffrey, aged 19, was arrested and it quickly came to light that his target had been Capt. Hanham with a motive to avenge the “considerable punishment” the officer had imposed on him. Private McCaffrey was convicted of murder having been said to show no remorse, stating he only intended to kill Capt. Hanham, but the death of Col. Crofton did not matter – he was publicly hanged outside Kirkdale Jail, Liverpool in January 1862.
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