Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Alfred Alone) edge bruise, very fine £2000-2500

Alfred Alone and his sister found themselves at Lucknow during the siege by the mutineers. Whilst Miss Alone helped tend the sick and wounded in the hospital, her brother helped man the defences, being stationed at Innes Post and is recorded as being wounded. It is recorded on the night on 19/20 July 1857:

‘Lieutenant Loughnan was holding Innes' post on the north-west angle, with twelve men of the 13th Native Infantry (his own regiment), twelve of the 52nd, and a number of volunteers. The post jutted out so sharply from the main position that Loughnan had been given orders to retire if it became untenable. As the enemy came on in great force some of his men began to speak of retreat, but Loughnan refused to hear of it and cried: 'Give a shout, my boys! A loud one and a strong one!' At that the men cheered lustily and the enemy's advance was checked. But not for long, for they soon made another rush which took some of them right underneath the walls, where they were safe from the musketry of the defenders. Once there they could get no further but shouted for scaling ladders. The garrison were ready: as the ladders came up they fired at the men that brought them, and if they hit only one of the three the other two carried him away rather than stay to face the musketry. The men under the walls, tired of waiting for the ladders, attempted to scale the works without them, but those that reached the top were thrust down again at the point of the bayonet.

Loughnan was anxious, however, for he had no hand-grenades - which would soon have cleared them out - and it was death to lean over the parapet and fire down at them; but two of the volunteers, Mr Erith and Mr Alone, pelted the enemy with bricks and mortar and all sorts of filth until they had forced them out into the open, when they were soon dispersed by musketry.’ (Ref: Ordeal at Lucknow, The Defence of the Residency, by Michael Joyce)