User:Andygm/John Jack

John Jack (March 19, 1780–May 12, 1870) MGSM, WM, was a private soldier in the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Present at twelve battles in the Peninsular War, he formed part of the forlorn hope storming parties at the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, for which he was awarded a medal by the officers of the 52nd. Jack was also present at the Battle of Waterloo. Discharged from the army in 1826, he became a Chelsea out-pensioner, and died in 1870, at the age of 90. His survival for so many years following the wars allowed him to be awarded the retrospective Military General Service Medal in 1847 (awarded only to living veterans of the Peninsular War), with twelve clasps, giving him a unique collection of medals. He is also the subject of a photograph, a rare distinction for a private soldier.

Early life
The son of Charles Jack and Margaret Brodie, John Jack was born in Cairnhill in the Parish of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire in 1780, he was baptised with his twin sister, Janet, on 19 March. Jack worked as a farm servant for the parish minister, Rev. Alexander Johnston, for a wage of £3-10-0 per annum. Deciding to learn a trade, Jack moved to Turriff and took up shoemaking. In 1803 Jack joined the Aberdeenshire militia as a paid substitute for a drafted local landowner's son. His brother Charles also joined at this time. While serving in Edinburgh Castle, Jack witnessed the recruiting party seeking volunteers for new light infantry brigade, and decided to join.

Military service
On 5 May 1805 Jack transferred in the Regular Army, joining the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot, the first British regiment to be designated light infantry. Along with the regiment, Jack underwent his light infantry training at Shorncliffe Camp, in Kent, the under Sir John Moore. Once trained, Jack saw service in Sicily, before embarking for Sweden in early 1808. The regiment was soon recalled and sent to Portugal under Sir John Moore, where he was involved in the retreat to Corunna. He later described the privations of the retreat, recalling 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. He also recalled repairing the shoes of soldiers during the long walk.

In the Peninsular Campaign under Sir Arthur Wellesley, Jack saw action in twenty-seven engagements, including the twelve battles for which he later received clasps. During the attack on Ciudad Rodrigo, he volunteered for the Forlorn Hope where he was in the leading file during the storming of the fortress. While injured by a musket ball in the left side during the siege of Badajoz in 1812, he was dragged to safety by a comrade and recovered enough to continue the campaign Surviving the sieges, around the time of the storming of San Sebastian (August 1813) the officers of the regiment provided him (among other volunteers for the forlorn hopes of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz) with a medal, commemorating his bravery as a "Valiant Stormer". He was also qualified to wear a laurel wreath badge with the letters 'V. S.'.

Jack was present at the Battle of Waterloo, and like other survivors of the battle, received two years extra pensionable service. Following the battle he served in France with the occupying army. In 1821 he served in Ireland and in 1823 was sent to Canada with the 52nd Foot. Jack was discharged on 19 September 1826 in Halifax, at the age of 47, for being "old and worn out", the end to 23 years' service.

On discharge, he didn't wish to remain in Canada and, having no money to get home, he joined the Royal Navy in Halifax presumably joining a ship which was bound for home. On his return to Britain, he disembarked at Portsmouth and then walked home to Aberdeenshire.

On discharge, he was described as "a gallant soldier and a good, honest man", of 5'9½" height, grey eyes, brown hair and a "fresh complexion".

Later life
Jack was in receipt of a Chelsea out-pension of 1/1d per day, which he supplemented by work as a shoemaker in New Byth. He married Barbara Innes, with whom he had four children: Alexander Bell, Jane, Jessie and James. In 1860 he wrote to the Duke of Richmond – an ex-officer of the 52nd by whose side he had stormed Ciudad Rodrigo – requesting an increase in the pension. Although arriving the night of the duke's death, the duke's heir dealt with the request and Jack received an increase to 1/6d per day. Jack died at the age of 90 in New Byth on 12 May 1870, and was buried in the parish churchyard at Turriff. Shortly before he died, he was photographed with his medals.

The medals were at one time sold by the family, but were later repurchased and are currently held by his descendants.