User:Andygm/John Jack
John Jack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Buried | Turiff Churchyard, Banffshire |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 52nd Regiment of Foot |
| Battles / wars | Toulouse, Orthez, Nive, Nivelle, Pyrenees, Vittoria, Salamanca, Badajoz, Cuidad Rodrigo, Fuentes D'Onor, Busaco, Corunna |
| Awards | Ciudad Rodrigo Medal Medal, General Service Medal with 12 clasps, Waterloo Medal |
| Other work | Shoemaker |
John Jack
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Jack 1780 - 1870
Soldier 52nd Regiment, 1805-1826. Severely wounded Badajoz. In the advance of the storming parties Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz. Out pensioner Royal Hospital, Chelsea 1826-1870. Shoemaker, New Byth. Buried in Turiff.
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Details
John Jack was a shoemaker in New Byth, Aberdeenshire. He joined the militia in 1806, taking the place of a local farmer's son (presumably being paid to enter as a substitute). His brother Charles Jack also joined. After service in the militia John entered the regular army, joining the 52nd Regiment of Foot. His reason for joining is not known although there is a story that he was not allowed to marry his sweetheart and joined the army in a fit of pique.
Training
He was sent to Shorncliff camp, the training camp of the light division under Sir John Moore.
Military Career
Saw service in Sweden and then proceeded to Spain under Sir John Moore. On the retreat to Corunna he said that he and his fellows had nothing to eat but some raw pork, cut from some pigs which had been caught. He could not stomach it and instead ate some raw kale which he'd taken from a garden.
In the Peninsular Campaign under sir Arthur Wellesley, he saw action in eleven battles, and was in the leading file of attack at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo. He was injured in the side at the siege of Badajoz.
He was present at the Battle of Waterloo and received two years extra pensionable service like the other survivors of the battle.
After the war he was in Canada and was discharged in Halifax as 'old and worn out'.
Despite the description he had to walk all the way from Portsmouth to Aberdeenshire, being discharged at the port of disembarkation.
Post Army Career
John returned to his trade as shoemaker and married having several children. He was in receipt of a Chelsea Pension and lived to the ripe old age of 90, being photographed just before he died.
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Further information
He died Turiff, Aberdeenshire, 12 May 1870. [edit]
The Medals
The medals were at one time sold, but were repurchased and are held by the family. [edit]
Location of grave (Turiff)
Categories: 52nd Regiment of Foot soldiers