Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Major-General John Singleton, Royal Artillery
Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Major, R.A.); Indian Mutiny 1857-58, no clasp (Mjr., V Field Baty. No. 1 Cpy. 6th Batn. R.A.); Legion of Honour, 2nd Empire, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamel with gold centres, enamel chipped on points and centres; Order of the Medjidie, 5th class breast badge in silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, the first with some light pitting, otherwise very fine (5)

Major-General John Singleton served in the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the affairs of Bulganac and M’Kenzie’s Farm, the battles of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann, the siege and fall of Sebastopol, and repulse of the sortie on the 26th October, 1854 (Brevet of Major, medal with four clasps, Knight of the Legion of Honour, 5th class of the Medjidie, and Turkish medal). He served in India in 1858 and commanded the artillery in the repulse of the mutinous Sepoys at Mooltan (Medal).
‘Mooltan remained quiet till September 1858, when the infantry of that garrison was reduced to the Bombay fusiliers. It then contained no cavalry, but V Battery, 1/6 R.A. (Major J. Singleton) had arrived from England. On September 2, without any ostensible cause, they all rose, and, arming themselves with long poles and sticks, having hatchets, hammers etc., fastened on the ends, they made a sudden onslaught on the artillery quarter guard with the evident intention of possessing themselves of the guns. Singleton, who was on the spot, ordered two guns into action with case shot, and scattered one party of the rebels. Another body made a rush to the stables, but they were met and dispersed by the Bombay Fusiliers. Others approached the stables by another route, and succeeded in killing and wounding some unarmed drivers and syces before they were driven off by 2nd Captain A. H. W. Williams, R.A., and a mixed detachment of gunners and infantry. A third party came under shrapnel fire from Singleton and were at once put to flight. Few of the mutineers escape.’ (The History of the Royal and Indian Artillery in the Mutiny of 1857, J. R. J. Jocelyn)