Description
Indian Mutiny Medal, bar Central India, Sergeant John Gould, 12th Lancers, former 15th Hussars, Served with the Saugor Field Force in the Mutiny, later Chelsea in Pensioner, 24 years in the cavalry.
Officially impressed: “Serjt J. Gould. 12th Lancers.”
Sergeant John Gould, of York, was a Cavalry Veteran of 14 years in India before the Indian Mutiny with the 15th Hussars, during which time the 15th Hussars Captain claimed that each man in his regiment could break in any wild horse with ease and made fine horsemen.
At the end of their time in India, John was invited to volunteer for the 12th Lancers, who were remaining in India.
In the aftermath of the loss of Cavalry men at Balaklava during the Charge, they were posted for service in Crimea during the Siege of Sebastopol, when Private Gould earned his Crimea Medal, bar Sebastopol and the Turkish Crimea Medal.
He then saw rapid promotion to Corporal and Sergeant, serving in the Indian Mutiny, where he rode under Major General Whitlock in the Saugor Field Division in Central India.
With the Saugor Field Division, they saw good service alongside the Central India Field Force, being ordered to cross the Bundelkhand from Jubbulpore to Banda.
In 1858 the Saugor Field Division joined up with the Nagpore Movable Column and in April engaged the 9,000 men strong column of the Nawab of Banda, defeating Nawab’s army and capturing the city of Banda and later the city of Kirwi.
Sergeant John Gould, was born circa 1820 in York, Yorkshire. He worked as a Groom before enlisting.
At 19 he signed up with the 15th Hussars on 14th December 1839.
Served 14 years 49 days until 31st January 1854
Transferred to the 12th Lancers on 1st February 1854, as the 15th Hussars left India.
Promoted Corporal on 8th August 1856
Promoted Sergeant on 25th January 1858
3rd May 1859, reduced and court martialled for being drunk, but reinstated soon after, until 25th January 1864. A slight blemish having seen significant action in the recent years.
Total Service of 24 years 44 days, with 19 years served overseas, 18 years in India and 1 Year in Crimea and at Scutari.
“His conduct has been Very Good, and he was when promoted in possession of 3 good conduct badges, and would had he not been promoted have been now in possession of 5 good conduct badges.
He has received the Crimean and Turkish Crimean Medals and also the Indian Mutiny Medal.
Tried by a Regimental Court Martial on 3rd May 1859 and convicted of being drunk.”
1861 Census records him as a Sergeant 12th Royal lancers at the York Barracks at Gate Fulford.
Discharged in 1864, he returned home to Leeds.
On 1st March 1891, 71 year old Sergeant John Gould had been made a Widower, he was then admitted as a Chelsea Pensioner, an in-pensioner at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.
Shown on the 1891 Census as a Chelsea Pensioner
He spent his last year of his life at the Royal Hospital, and died there on 23rd August 1892.
He was buried in the Royal Parks, Brompton Cemetery, Grave Reference, 156606
