Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Crimean War Al Valore Militare group of five awarded to Major-General John Hackett, 44th Regiment, later commander of the troops in the West Indies

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Major John Hackett, Dy. Asst. Qr. Mr. General) contemporary engraved naming in the Hunt & Roskell style; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860 (Major J. Hackett, 44th Regt.) officially impressed naming; Al Valore Militare, ‘Spedizione D’Oriente 1855-1856’, mint mark ‘FG’ (Major John Hackett, Unattached); Order of the Medjidie, 5th class, reduced size breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels, crescent suspension chipped; Turkish Crimea, British issue, all fitted with T. B. Bailey Coventry silver laurel ribbon brooches, contact marks, otherwise generally very fine (5) £2500-3000

John Hackett was born on 2 October 1819, son of Vice-Admiral John Hackett, R.N. He was appointed Ensign, from Sandhurst, in the 70th Foot on 17 November 1837, becoming Lieutenant in August 1839, and Captain in July 1851. He served as Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General ay Headquarters during the Crimean war, including the affairs of Bulganac and M’Kenzie’s Farm, and battles of Alma, Inkermann, and Balaklava, and the siege of Sebastopol (Medal with four Clasps, Brevet of Major, Sardinian and Turkish Medals, and 5th Class of the Medjidie).

The citation for the award of the Sardinian Al Valore Militare reads: ‘Served the Eastern Campaign of 1854-55 as deputy-assistant quarter-master-general; was present at the battles of Balaklava and Inkermann, and the early part of the siege of Sebastopol, till ordered to proceed to Scutari, where the services of an officer of the quarter-master-general’s department were required.’

Confirmed in the rank of Major in September 1855, Hackett served with the 44th Regiment in the campaign of 1860 in northern China, including the action of Sinho, and the assault and capture of the Taku Forts (Medal with Clasp). He transferred as Major to the 76th Foot in 1866 and was Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, 1872-76.He was appointed commander of the troops in the West Indies from May 1878 until 1 April 1882, on which date he was promoted to Honorary Major-General. He died at West Brighton on 1 November 1890. An obituary with portrait was published in the Illustrated London News on 29 November 1890.