Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Sergeant-Major James Hill, 7th Bengal Native Infantry, who was attached to the staff of Major-General Sir James Outram, as Assistant Baggage Master at the first relief of Lucknow and at the subsequent defence and capture of Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (Serjt. Jas. Hill, 7th N,I.) some edge bruising and polished, otherwise very fine and probably unique to regiment £800-£1,000

The last Will and Testament of Sergeant-Major James Hill surprisingly reveals that he was born William Nessling. The preamble concerning aliases at the National Archives state that, contrary to popular belief, it was quite common in mid-nineteenth century Britain for citizens to use an alias. Provided one was over the age of 16 and not engaged in any fraudulent activity any person could change their name without registering the fact with any legal authority.

William Nessling was christened at Mendlesham on 25 July 1824, the son of Stephen Nessling, a shoemaker and his wife Elizabeth. In 1833 the Norfolk criminal courts convict a certain Stephen Nessling to deportation to the colonies for life for the stealing of a sheep. No other Stephen Nessling can be found in either the Norfolk or Suffolk records and furthermore he disappears from the family records at this date. Speculation apart what is known is that sometime after his 16th birthday William Nessling changed his name to James Hill and lived the remainder of his life under this name.

He attested into the Bengal Foot Artillery on 7 October 1841, at Westminster, being assigned to the 4th Company 3rd Battalion. He was fair haired, of light complexion, living in Stowmarket, Suffolk and working as a cotton spinner. He gave his age as 20 whereas he was only 17, and arrived in India on the ship Juliet on 13 June 1842.

A series of letters written by Sergeant-Major J. Hill from Ipswich in 1861, which form part of the L/MIL/5 (soldiers letters) archive in the British Library, give a detailed description of his army life and movements throughout his 20 years and 208 days service in India. He wrote that his health had deteriorated and was debilitated by long service and requested retirement to pension. Although he was 157 days short of the required 21 years service, he was allowed to retire with full benefits based on the regulations existing at the time. One letter lists his promotions and service as follows:

‘Gunner, 7 October 1841 - 28 February 1843; Bombardier, 1 March 1843 - 4 January 1844; Corporal, 5 January 1844 - 9 August 1846; Sergeant, 10 August 1846 - 6 April 1851; Quarter Master Sergeant, 7 April 1851 - 16 July 1857; Sergeant-Major, 17 July 1857 - 5 May 1860.

Present as Gunner with the Left Wing, 4th Company 3rd Battalion Bengal Foot Artillery at the Battle of Sobraon in the Sutlej Campaign on the 10th February 1846.
Present as Sergeant with the 4th Company 3rd Battalion Bengal Foot Artillery at the Siege of Multan and the Battle of Gujarat in 1849.
Present with the 7th Regiment Native Infantry in crushing the Santhal Rebellion in 1855/56.’

On 25 July 1857 the 7th , 8th and 40th Regiments of Native Infantry all mutinied at Dinapore and marched for Arrah. Brevet-Colonel H. Templar, 7th N.I states that a total of 882 officers and men were present at Dinapore and sub-stations on this date including Sergeant-Major James Hill. On 27 July a relief party, led by Captain Dunbar, consisting of several companies of the 10th and 37th Regiments together with 50 loyal Sikhs from the Military Police and approximately 20 loyal Sikhs of the 7th N.I. led by Lt. R. M. Ingilby made their way by boats down the Saone river to relieve Arrah. Hill’s letters make no mention of being with the column but as the senior N.C.O. of the 7th NI it is probable that he was. The relief party was badly commanded and ended in a disaster. Of the 405 men that left Dinapore 135 were killed and 232 wounded. Lieutenant Ingleby was shot through the head attempting to climb into a boat and his body never recovered.

Major-General Sir James Outram arrived at Dinapore from Calcutta on 18 August 1857, as the newly promoted Commander-in-Chief of the Dinapore and Cawnpore Divisions. All available officers and European troops, including Sergeant-Major Hill, joined the General and immediately marched for Cawnpore. Troops and volunteers were added to the column at Benares, Futtehpore and Allahabad with the force arriving Cawnpore on 19 September 1857. In anticipation of Outram’s arrival, a bridge of boats had been floated across the Ganges on the night of 18 September and the next morning a force of 2,780 Europeans and 400 loyal Indians, led by Major-General Havelock, crossed over to relieve Lucknow.

Hill's letters confirm that he was present at the Battle of Mangalwar on 21 September 1857.

Further confirmation of his services come from a letter from Captain L. P. Bouverie, 78th Highlanders, and countersigned by Captain Spurgin, Brigade Major 1st Brigade, 1st Division and Captain J. C. Tombs, Field Paymaster, dated 12 March 1858, which states that ‘Sergeant-Major James Hill, late 7th Nat. Infantry performed the duties of Assistant Baggage Master of the 1st and subsequently of the 2nd Brigade 1st Division of the Army in the Field and was actually present in that capacity during the Siege and Capture of Lucknow.’

The Baggage Master was Lieutenant James Augustus Grant of the 8th Regiment Native Infantry which had also mutinied at Dinapore. The baggage train, in the rear, was attacked on numerous occasions and casualties were high, including Lieutenant Grant who was severely wounded. It is worth noting that Lieutenant Grant was famed as the man who accompanied Speke on his quest to find the source of the Nile.

Sergeant-Major Hill's letters further state that he was ‘present at the taking of the Alum Bagh, 23d September 1857. Present with the Force in the Relief of the besieged Garrison of Lucknow, 25th September 1857. Was with the Garrison of Lucknow from 26th September 1857 to 19th November 1857. Present with the 1st Division under Sir J. Outram at the Alum Bagh from 30th December 1857 until the fall of Lucknow, March 1858.’

Hill’s official medal roll shows ‘Sergeant-Major James Hill, Jhansie Police, late of the 7th Regt. N.I., attached to Staff of Major-General Outram in Lucknow and Alum Bagh.’ He was ‘in Lucknow with Major Genl. Outram and Asst. Baggage Master in the 1st Division at the Capture of Lucknow.’ Afterwards on ‘Field Service during the recent operations in India - Mangalwarrah 21st Septr. Taking of Alum Bagh, 23d Septr. Joined the Lucknow Garrison 25th Septr. 1857. Sahao 5th Septr. 1858’.

After the fall of Lucknow in March 1858, Sergeant-Major Hill was attached to the Jhansie Military Police serving under Brigadier Macduff in the Bundlekhand. He was present at the battle of Sahao, 5 September 1858, and served with the Jhansie Police until he left for England on 5 May 1860. He was granted two years extra service for his exertions.

He wrote two further letters asking that his Prize Money for the Lucknow campaigns be forwarded to him and thanked the authorities for his Mutiny medal.

James Hill retired to Ipswich, Suffolk, where he bought a plot of land. The 1871 census shows that he had married on his return to England a woman named Sarah, 6 years his senior. He died on 2 March 1880, and is buried at St Mary’s Church, Little Stonham, Suffolk, just a few miles from where he originally lived as William Nessling. He was 58 years old. His wife Sarah continued to live in Ipswich until her death on 23 October 1894.

Sold with a file of detailed research including copies of his various letters, medal rolls and statements of service.