Orders, Decorations and Medals

Indian Mutiny 1857-58, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Sapper John Ford, Royal Engrs.) good very fine

Sapper John Ford was killed in the powder explosion at Jumna Musjid, Lucknow, on 17 March 1858. At Jumna Musjid there were nine cartloads of powder found in a courtyard which General Outram directed to be destroyed. This task was undertaken by the 23rd Company on 17 March 1858. As there was a well on the spot it was considered best to throw the powder, which was in tin cases, down the well into the water. A line of men was formed and the cases passed from hand to hand as rapidly as possible but, by some fatality, one of them exploded in falling. A ball of fire flashed up and ignited case after case along the line until the carts were reached, when they also exploded. Captain Clerke, Royal Engineers, and Lieutenant Brownlow, Bengal Engineers, who were superintending the operation, were both killed, as were all but one of the twenty men forming the party.