NOONANS sell indian mutiny victoria cross that was due to be presented by queen victoria but recipiEnt missed the CEREMONY FOR hammer price of £55,000

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 sold for a hammer price of £55,000 at Noonans Mayfair in their auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria today (Wednesday, February 14, 2024). It was expected to fetch £20,000-30,000 and was part of fifth and final part of The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery. It had been purchased in 1980 by Mr Marriage for £5,500.

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. 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.

Following the sale Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison at Noonans commented: “We are pleased to see Jennings’ duplicate Victoria Cross make the distinguished price of £55,000 and give a new collector the chance to acquire this most famous of Gallantry awards at such a fair value. Jennings was elected by his comrades as the most deserving soldier to receive the V.C. on the day, which in my opinion is the ultimate honour in being recommended for such bravery.”
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.