Hanson Jarrett

Entered a defended village building before his own soldiers.

Hanson Chambers Taylor Jarrett was born in Madras in 1837. His father was a barrister and his mother came from a military family. He attended Prior Park College near Bath and entered the Bengal Army in 1854. His original regiment, the 26th Bengal Native Infantry, mutinied in 1857. Jarrett subsequently served with the Punjab formation that became the 20th Punjab Infantry.

On 14 October 1858, at Baroun, he led an attack against men occupying a brick building beside a narrow street. Advancing with a small party, he reached the entrance before the rest of his soldiers could effectively support him. He forced his way into the defended position and narrowly avoided a sword blow. The Victoria Cross recognised the conspicuous courage of this attempt to break into the strongpoint. The award appeared in the London Gazette on 18 June 1859.

Jarrett continued his Indian service after the rebellion. He became an adjutant and then a captain before moving into forest administration in 1867. His subsequent work with the Public Works and forest departments accompanied promotions to major, lieutenant colonel and colonel. He reached the position of conservator of forests.

In 1890 he married Nina Louisa Dombal at Allahabad. He died at Saugor in April 1891. His service in the rebellion was recognised by the Indian Mutiny Medal in addition to the Victoria Cross. The two medals appeared together in a later auction record, although their present location is not established.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For an act of daring bravery at the village of Baroun, on the 14th of October, 1858, on an occasion when about 70 Sepoys were defending themselves in a brick building, the only approach to which was up a very narrow street, in having called on the men of his regiment to follow him, when, backed by only some four men, he made a dash at the narrow entrance, where, though a shower of balls was poured upon him, he pushed his way up to the wall of the house, and beating up the bayonets of the rebels with his sword, endeavoured to get in.

The London Gazette of 21 June 1859, Numb. 22278, p. 2420