Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Private R. Jaques, 1st Madras Fusiliers, who distinguished himself, and was dangerously wounded, at the storming of the Charbagh Bridge during the first Relief of Lucknow, 25 September 1857: alone with ‘Young Havelock’ he stood firm on the Bridge until the entrance to Lucknow was won. He subsequently died of his wounds on 18 November 1857

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (R. Jaques, 1st. Madras Fusrs.) good very fine £800-£1,200

Robert Jaques (also spelt Jakes) was born in South Lincoln and attested for the 1st Madras Fusiliers in London on 19 February 1852. He served during the Great Sepoy Mutiny at Lucknow, and distinguished himself at the storming of the Charbagh Bridge on 25 September 1857, during the climax of the first Relief of Lucknow, standing firm under a withering fire with ‘young Havelock’.

The Indian Mutiny of 1857, by G. B. Malleson, gives the following account: ‘A charge alone could remedy the position. Recognising this, young Havelock... dashed forward onto the bridge, and made for the barricade. Then the hurricane opened. Of the twenty-eight men who had dashed forward, only Havelock and a private named Jakes were unwounded. Unable to pass the barricade, Havelock, erect on his horse, waived his sword and called on the main body to come on. Jakes stood by his side, loading and firing as fast as he could. There they stood, the hero officer and the hero private, for fully two minutes exposed to the full fire of the enemy. They stood unharmed. Then suddenly there was a rush, and the Madras Fusiliers dashed forward, cleared the bridge, stormed the barricade, and bayoneted the enemy gunners where they stood. The bridge was gained. The entrance to Lucknow was won.’

Jaques was dangerously wounded in the left arm during the entrance into Lucknow, most likely from gunshot he received on the bridge, and died of wounds on 18 November 1857.

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