Major William Henry Hare was gazetted as an Ensign into his father's old Regiment, the 51st King's Own Light Infantry, in August 1831. Advanced to Lieutenant in December 1835, he served in Ireland until May 1837, afterwards being embarked for New South Wales and Van Diemans' Land, in charge of convicts. Following his arrival in Tasmania, where he gained advancement to Captain, Hare served in Detachments in Port Arthur, Hobart Town and Launceston, prior to transferring to Swan River, Western Australia in late 1841, in which place he commanded a Detachment until May 1847. Afterwards returning home to an appointment in Chatham, he was advanced to Major in August 1850 and rejoined his Regiment at Fort St. George, Madras in early 1851, just a day or two before the start of the Second Burma War.

Sailing in two Frigates, the Regiment reached a rendezvous at the mouth of the Rangoon River on 7.4.1852 and Hare was in action over the next few days, not least on the 12th, at the storming of the White House Stockade, and the 14th, at the capture of the Great Dagon Pagoda. In his official report on the former action, his C.O., Major Errington, made mention of 'the gallant conduct' of Hare 'who mounted the first ladder' into the Stockade. Tragically, having survived these two hotly contested actions, Hare died of disease at Amherst, near Moulmein, in June 1852. Once more Major Errington put pen to paper, although on this occasion in a letter of condolence to his father:

'It will be gratifying to you to know that your son's gallantry was conspicuous at the storming of the White House Stockade, an outwork in advance of Rangoon. He led the way up one of the ladders and was the first Officer of the 51st in the work. He was anxious also to accompany me to Bassein, although in a very weak state of dysentery. He was an excellent Officer and proved his gallantry in the Field ...'

This award forms part of a Family Group, also see Lot 541.