Description
A Crimean War ‘Legion d’Honneur’ and India Mutiny ‘Lucknow’ Group to Lieutenant Stuart John Mildmay Maxwell, 5th Coy, 11th (H Field Battery) Royal Field Artillery , who was picked out for having ‘galloped his Flanders wagons right into the trenches’ with the aim of providing additional gunpowder during the bombardment of Sebastopol, and who was later wounded in action at Jugdeespore in June 1858 during the Indian Mutiny whilst serving in E Battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Crimea, 1854-56, clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, Lieutt. S. J. M. Maxwell. Rl. Horse Arty,( engraved ‘Hunt & Roskell’ style in smart upright capitals);Indian Mutiny, 1857-58, clasp, Lucknow, Lieut. S, J, M. Maxwell, Rl. H. Art.;France, Legion d’Honneur, Second Empire Type, Knight’s breast badge in silver and enamels with a gold centre, some damage to finial points and to white enamels; Turkish Crimea, British issue, by Hunt & Roskell, unnamed as issued;
First, second and fourth with silver-gilt claw-type top bars upon ribbons, the latter marked ‘Hunt & Roskell to reverse,
Lieutenant John Stuart Mildmay Maxwell (1834-1860) was born on 8 March 1834 in the British Chaplaincy, Rome, the son of Captain George Berkeley Maxwell and Letitia Maxwell (née Clerk). Passing out from the Royal Military College in 1853, he enlisted for service with the Royal Artillery and received his first commission as Second Lieutenant on 22 June 1853. Promoted to Lieutenant on 20 June 1854,
He joined the Field Artillery and was present in the Crimean War with 5th Coy, 11th (H Field Battery) Royal Field Artillery. Taking part in the Battles of Alma, Balaklava, the Russian Reconnaissance on 26 October 1854, the Battle of Inkermann and the Siege of Sebastopol, he was picked out for praise by his superiors for bringing a supply of powder to the guns, having ‘galloped his Flanders wagon right into the trenches’ during the bombardment of Sebastopol whilst serving in H Battery (as noted by ‘The History of the Royal Artillery (Crimean Period)’ by Jocelyn). While it has not been possible as yet to confirm the citation behind the award of his Legion d’Honneur from official sources, it seems very likely that this award, confirmed in ‘British Battles & Medals’, was made with this action in mind.
He is also recorded as being present on the Victoria Ridge at Inkerman, and at McKenzie’s Farm and the repulse of reconnaissance on the 26th October at Inkerman.
Maxwell later travelled with “E” Troop Royal Horse Artillery to India to serve during the Mutiny, taking part in the skirmish at Pandora, the Capture of Miangunge, the Siege of Lucknow, and during the operations as Azimgaur and at Jugdeespore, where he was wounded in action in June 1858. Force under Brig Luggard in attack on rebels under Kunniah Sing at Tigra, Azimghur on Tons River 14th April E troop (Mitchell) pursued rebels to Nathopore engaged rebels at Sheopur Ghet on the Ganges, 10 miles from Bulliak. Luggard’s force assembled at Arrah on the 5th May present at operations in Jugdispore jungle from the 7th to 9th May.
Grants Winter campaign in Oude Provence: Capture of Rampore Kussia , E troop was operating in Baswama district.
On 10th November 1858 present at the capture of Amithi, 11th to 16th November at the Siege of Shunkerpore. then with Brig Taylors column sent to Fyzabad.
He died in Umballa, East Indies on the 23rd January 1860 at the age of 26, cutting short a promising life and career. He left an estate worth £3356 which was administered by Loetitia Maxwell, his mother and only next of kin.
Ex Glendining, 29 May, 1980
Condition – campaign medals generally good very fine, Legion d’Honneur nearly very fine only
