NOONANS to sell indian mutiny victoria cross that was due to be presented by queen victoria but recipiEnt missed the ceremony

An Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross to Rough Rider and Irishman Edmond Jennings of the 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, for gallantry during the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857, specifically for rescuing a wounded officer when under attack and taking him to safety on his own horse will be offered by Noonans Mayfair in their auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. After the event and 24 years’ service in India, 42-year-old Jennings was nominated by his fellow non-commissioned officers to be given the V.C – described as Clause 13 V.C. This is expected to fetch £20,000-30,000 and is part of fifth and final part of The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery. It was purchased in 1980 by Mr Marriage for £5,500.

Two Victoria Crosses are known to this recipient, the one offered for sale here, and a second one which is held by the ‘F’ (Sphinx) Battery, 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (the successor unit to Jennings’ original unit), together with his campaign medals. While the exact reason for two Victoria Crosses named to this man is a matter of some conjecture, the most likely reason is that the first-named V.C. was sent out to India for presentation to him there (as were the other Bengal Artillery Victoria Crosses), but that once it was known that he was returning home to the U.K., Queen Victoria herself expressed a wish to personally decorate him with the V.C. at an Investiture at Windsor on 9 October 1860, and a second Cross was consequently named up. However, Jennings’ ship had been delayed in departing India, and he did not arrive in time, thereby missing the Windsor investiture. It seems likely that the V.C. in Noonans sale was the one that was named up for presentation by Queen Victoria herself.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison at Noonans commented: “This Victoria Cross in my opinion is very underrated as it was an award that was decided by his fellow soldiers rather than a directly recommended one. To be selected by your colleagues as being the most deserving to be awarded the V.C. in battle to me is a greater compliment of their bravery than being witnessed by officers of the day. And, as this V.C. never got presented in person, it is a wonderful opportunity for first-time collectors to acquire a real V.C. with his other one being in the Regimental Museum.” 

Edmond Jennings (often mistakenly referred to as Edward Jennings) was born in Ballinrobe, Castlebar, co. Mayo, in 1815, and enlisted in the Honourable East India Company’s service at Tullamore, co. Westmeath, on 2 April 1836. He arrived in Calcutta on 5 December 1836, and was posted to the 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Artillery in 1838. He saw active service during the First Afghan War and during the First Sikh War. He was appointed a Rough Rider in December 1855, retired in March 1859 and returned to the United Kingdom. He was later employed as a local corporation scavenger (a road sweeper) in North Shields in Tyne and Wear, on the wage of 18 shillings a week (to go with his 7 shillings per week military pension, and £10 per annum Victoria Cross annuity). He died in poverty in North Shields on 10 May 1889 and was buried in a paupers’ grave in Preston Cemetery, North Shields, a new headstone was erected over his grave in September 1997.

A total of 29 Victoria Crosses were awarded under Clause 13 during the Indian Mutiny 1857-58, of which 16 are known to reside in museums. The Victoria Cross was not awarded again under Clause 13 until the Boer War. The remaining thirteen balloted awards were all given for gallantry during the Great War.