Description
India General Service Medal 1854, bar Northwest Frontier, 780 Gunner John Pidgley, 2nd Battery 24th Brigade Mountain Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery, one of 71 earned by this unit.
Officially impressed: “780 Gunr J Pidgley No 2 By 24th Bde R.A.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
Gunner John Pidgley was one of only 71 men from his Half Battery deployed on service in the 1868 Black Mountain “Hazara” Expedition in India under the command of 2nd Captain C.S. Jackson.
Known as the Second Black Mountain Expedition of 1868, stemming from an attack on a British police post at Oghi in the Agror Valley by the Hassanzai, Akazai and Chagharzai Tribes. A British Military operation was conducted beginning in October 1868, which consisted of 12,544 troops commanded by Major General Alfred Thomas Wilde.
During the expedition Captain C.S. Jackson took only a half battery with him on active service, totalling 71 men, including Gunner Pidgley, where they were employed using Mortar Mules.
An extract from the report reads:
“Captain Jackson arrived at Rawul Pindee with his men only, and having very inferior mules, and men totally new to the work, has managed to keep his battery well to the front over some very difficult country.
When it is remembered that less than two months ago the battery possessed neither mortars nor mules, I feel sure the Major General (Wilde) will consider great credit due to Captain Jackson and his Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men.”
Mr John Pidley’s detailed obituary was published after his death at 84 in the Worthing Gazette, 26th February 1930:
“ONE OF THE OLDER GENERATION
DEATH OF MR JOHN PIDGLEY
Many of the older generation of Worthing residents will learn with regret of the death of Mr. John Pidgley at his home, 39, Teville-road, Worthing, on Friday.
Mr. Pidgley, who was in his 84th year, had been in failing health for some months, but so indomitable was his spirit that he refused to take to his bed until a few days before his death, and almost to the last he insisted on helping to tend with devoted care his invalid wife.
For 30 years Mr. Pidgley was a representative in Worthing of the Prudential Assurance Company, Limited, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He had been living in retirement for several years.
In his early manhood Mr. Pidgley served in the Royal Artillery, and was for nine years stationed in India, taking part in one of the then frequent engagements on the North-West Frontier.
A DOWNLAND LOVER.
A man of tall, upright figure, he preserved his military bearing until late in life. In his Army days he was a keen athlete, and right through his life, until old age slackened his activities, he kept his passion for walking. Nothing gave him more joy than a long tramp over the Downs. His endurance in walking was, indeed, almost inexhaustible, and few men had a more intimate knowledge of the byways and footpaths of West Sussex. He loved the Downs and the woods, and, although he would have made no claim to be a botanist, he knew every wild flower.
Mr. and Mrs. Pidgley celebrated their golden wedding about four years ago. Mrs. Pidgley has been ill for a long time, and her husband’s death, with its breaking of a long and happy married life, has come to her as a great shock.
The funeral took place yesterday (Tuesday) in the new Cemetery at Durrington, on the slope of the Downs which Mr. Pidgley loved so much. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Pidgley (son and daughter-in-law), Miss A. Pidgley (daughter), and Mr. and Mrs. E. Gateley (son-in-law and daughter).
The widow was too ill to attend. The simple service was conducted by Mr W.H. Bird.”
Sadly shortly after his death his wife followed him, her obituary in the Worthing Gazette only 2 weeks later, 12th March 1930, with no other deaths being registered in the cemetery there names were placed alongside one another in life as in death:
“In Death Not Divided.
FUNERAL OF MRS. JOHN PIDGLEY
Only twelve days after the death of her husband, Mr. John Pidgley (whose death at the age of 83 was recorded in the “Gazette” a fortnight ago), Mrs. Caroline Pidgley passed away at her home, 39, Teville-road, Worthing, on Wednesday morning, at the age of 82. At the time of her husband’s death she was very ill, and those near and dear to her realized that she could not long survive the parting from her life’s companion, to whom she was so deeply attached. In this case, it could be said, with almost literal truth, that in death they were not divided.
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
Mrs. Pidgley had been ill with heart trouble for some years, but much suffering had been borne with uncomplaining courage and resignation. She had lived in Worthing for practically the whole of her long life, and her death is mourned by many friends, especially those at the Baptist Church, Christ Church road.
The funeral took place on Saturday in the new Cemetery at Durrington. Husband and wife rest together in the same grave, and it is an appropriate coincidence that their names appear successively in the register at the Cemetery, no other funeral having intervened between the two interments.”
LIFE DETAILS
Mr John Pidgley, was born in Southampton, Hampshire circa 1846.
As a young man he had served in the Royal Artillery during the 1860s, during which time he spent many years in India, earning this medal for his part in the 1868 Black Mountain Expedition.
Leaving the Army behind, he married Caroline, a Worthing lady and settled in her native West Sussex.
In 1881, he was noted as a Coffee House Proprietor.
Not satisfied he then became an Insurance Agent for the Prudential Assurance Company for many years, shown on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census in this role, before the 1921 Census recalls him as finally “Insurance Agent Retired”.
As recorded in his obituary, John loved nothing more than a good long “Tramp down the downs”, living in the Worthing area, he had easy access to the stunning South Down National Park, in the days before it was in public ownership.
Experience Sussex recall his old stomping ground as: “With over 3,300km of rights of way, the South Downs National Park offers a landscape as varied as it is breathtaking – and it’s all just over an hour from London, waiting to be explored.
Discover rolling hills, ancient woodlands, dramatic cliffs, quaint villages, wonderful wildlife, clear skies and fresh Sussex air. It’s no wonder the South Downs has been named one of ‘Britain’s Breathing Spaces’.
Whether you’re a nature-lover, stargazer, hardy hiker or cycling-enthusiast, there really is something for everyone.”