Description
Indian Mutiny, bar Defence of Lucknow, Drummer Jonathan Loader, 32nd Light Infantry, an original Hero Defender during the siege, who died during the war.
Officially impressed: “DRUMr J. LOADER, 32nd L.I.”
Well preserved condition as a posthumous issue of the medal, some slight wear
Provenance: Ex Lewellyn Lord Collection of Musician’s Medals.
Confirmed on the Medal Roll entitled to the medal and Defence of Lucknow clasp, as one of the Original Defender during the siege, after the relief the regiment was sent to fight at Cawnpore, and having survived the entire siege and the massacre of many of his comrades at Chinhut, he died on service on 8th December 1857 “Between Allahabad and Cawnpore” 2 days after the 2nd Battle of Cawnpore ended and Tantya Tope was defeated and forced to flee.
About 655 clasps for the Defence of Lucknow were earned by the 32nd Light Infantry, only 19 of them were to the rank of Drummer.
They left the siege with 4 Victoria Crosses for their conduct, in exchange for having lost 15 Officers and 364 ranks dead, with another 11 officers and 198 ranks wounded.
With a comprehensive digital file of 160 high quality images tracing his services through the Muster and Pay books from 1841-1857.
Drummer Jonathan Loader, was a long serving Soldier and Musician in the 32nd Foot, having joined up as a Boy Recruit back in late 1841 whilst the Regiment was at Portsmouth.
Served in Leeds, Manchester, then Ireland, Dublin, Athlone, Fermoy, Cork in the 1840s.
He was one of the original members of the regiment who went out to India during May 1846 under command of Lt Col Fred Markham.
During the Second Anglo-Sikh “Punjab” War of 1848-9 he fought as a Drummer in both the Siege of Mooltan and Battle of Goojerat.
Being part of the garrison during the Siege of Lucknow
He was present with the regiment and should have fought in the action at Cawnpore, the Pursuit of the Gwalior contingent on 6th December.
“On evacuating Lucknow the regiment proceeded to Cawnpore, and arrived there on 30th November.
It was engaged in the action of Cawnpore and pursuit of the Gwalior Contingent on 6th December, under Sir Colin Campbell.
The Regiment remained at Cawnpore from 6th December to the end of the year.”
