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Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including a handwritten transcript of the proceedings of the recipient's Court-Martial at Delhi on 14.10.1863; his Army Pay Book inscribed to 'No. 2892 J.C. Brennan'; and a War Office communication confirming his V.C. pension of 10 per annum (dated 22.11.1859).
V.C. London Gazette 11.11.1859 'For marked gallantry at the assault of Jhansi on 3 April 1858, in bringing up two guns of the Hyderabad Contingent, manned by natives, laying each under a heavy fire from the walls and directing them so accurately as to compel the enemy to abandon his Battery'.
Sergeant Joseph C. Brennan, V.C., was born at St. Probus, Truro, Cornwall in August 1828 and enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 27.12.1855 at Newport, Monmouth, giving his occupation as 'Clerk'. He landed in India on 4.8.1857 and in the following year formed part of Sir Hugh Rose's Central India Field Force which set out from Mhow on 6 January to eliminate rebels and mutineers in Jhansi and Gwalior, who threatened British counter-insurgency operations further north. At the heart of Sir Hugh's strategic objective lay the capture of the city and fortress of Jhansi, which was not only the epicentre of the rebellion in Central India, and the scene of a particularly vile murder of European women and children some nine months earlier, but also the stronghold of the formidable rebel leader Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi. After an arduous approach march and the reduction of several places along the way, Rose's 6,000-strong force was completing its investment of Jhansi on 22 March when it was learned that Nana Sahib at the request of the Rani of Jhansi had despatched his best commander Tantia Topi with 22,000 men and 28 guns to break the siege. Rose, fully realising the danger of splitting his force to meet this unexpected threat, put his faith in his men and despatched 1500 - Brennan among them - to do battle with Tantia Topi on the Betwa River on 31.3.1858. In a successful demonstration of quality against sheer mass, Tantia Topi's force was driven headlong from the field, whereupon Rose returned to the siege. On 3 April, the day that Brennan performed his Victoria Cross deed, a breach was effected in the walls and the place stormed.
During the ensuing operations of Rose's Force Brennan was present at the Battle of Junch (6-7.5.1858); the Battle of Golauli (22.5.1858) and the capture of Gwalior (20.6.1858). For his act of gallantry at Jhansi he was 'promoted Bombardier by Major-General Sir Hugh Rose' - a fact stated by Brennan in defending himself at a Regimental Court-Martial in Delhi in October 1863. By then he was a Quarter-Master Sergeant with 22nd Brigade, R.A., and stood accused of failing to appear at a 5 o'clock Commanding Officer's parade some days earlier. One Corporal Mullins, a witness for the prosecution, maintained that he had found Brennan in bed shortly before the parade and had reminded him of the time. A second prosecution witness, Sergeant-Major Simons, told the Court that he had reminded Brennan about the parade earlier that day. He then gave evidence to the effect that there were no permissible circumstances under which Brennan might have been excused. This wrapped the case for the prosecution, whereupon Brennan produced his one and only witness.
Oddly, the witness, who turned out to be the 13-year old son of the Bazaar Sergeant, could shed no light whatsoever on Brennan's reason for missing the parade, though he stated he had spent the afternoon in Brennan's quarters. The Prosecuting Officer cross-examined the boy to find out what he had been doing in Brennan's quarters and was told 'writing, reading, and doing sums'. Then in a confused final address to the Court, Brennan claimed that (a) he thought he was on the Convalescent List (b) that he was busy collecting the 'Punkah coolies' for their pay parade, and (c) that Mullins had not come to his room that afternoon. Finally, and no doubt in desperation, he referred to his record of service and his winning of the Victoria Cross. But alas this would not sway the President or Members of the Court who duly found him Guilty and sentenced 'the Prisoner No. 690 Quarter-Master Sergeant Joseph Charles Brennan of the 22nd Brigade, R.A., to be reduced to the rank and pay of Gunner and Driver of Royal Artillery'. Happily, Brennan, a married man, regained the rank of Sergeant but died, soon after his returning to England, at Elham, near Folkestone, on 24.9.1872.
V.C. London Gazette 11.11.1859 'For marked gallantry at the assault of Jhansi on 3 April 1858, in bringing up two guns of the Hyderabad Contingent, manned by natives, laying each under a heavy fire from the walls and directing them so accurately as to compel the enemy to abandon his Battery'.
Sergeant Joseph C. Brennan, V.C., was born at St. Probus, Truro, Cornwall in August 1828 and enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 27.12.1855 at Newport, Monmouth, giving his occupation as 'Clerk'. He landed in India on 4.8.1857 and in the following year formed part of Sir Hugh Rose's Central India Field Force which set out from Mhow on 6 January to eliminate rebels and mutineers in Jhansi and Gwalior, who threatened British counter-insurgency operations further north. At the heart of Sir Hugh's strategic objective lay the capture of the city and fortress of Jhansi, which was not only the epicentre of the rebellion in Central India, and the scene of a particularly vile murder of European women and children some nine months earlier, but also the stronghold of the formidable rebel leader Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi. After an arduous approach march and the reduction of several places along the way, Rose's 6,000-strong force was completing its investment of Jhansi on 22 March when it was learned that Nana Sahib at the request of the Rani of Jhansi had despatched his best commander Tantia Topi with 22,000 men and 28 guns to break the siege. Rose, fully realising the danger of splitting his force to meet this unexpected threat, put his faith in his men and despatched 1500 - Brennan among them - to do battle with Tantia Topi on the Betwa River on 31.3.1858. In a successful demonstration of quality against sheer mass, Tantia Topi's force was driven headlong from the field, whereupon Rose returned to the siege. On 3 April, the day that Brennan performed his Victoria Cross deed, a breach was effected in the walls and the place stormed.
During the ensuing operations of Rose's Force Brennan was present at the Battle of Junch (6-7.5.1858); the Battle of Golauli (22.5.1858) and the capture of Gwalior (20.6.1858). For his act of gallantry at Jhansi he was 'promoted Bombardier by Major-General Sir Hugh Rose' - a fact stated by Brennan in defending himself at a Regimental Court-Martial in Delhi in October 1863. By then he was a Quarter-Master Sergeant with 22nd Brigade, R.A., and stood accused of failing to appear at a 5 o'clock Commanding Officer's parade some days earlier. One Corporal Mullins, a witness for the prosecution, maintained that he had found Brennan in bed shortly before the parade and had reminded him of the time. A second prosecution witness, Sergeant-Major Simons, told the Court that he had reminded Brennan about the parade earlier that day. He then gave evidence to the effect that there were no permissible circumstances under which Brennan might have been excused. This wrapped the case for the prosecution, whereupon Brennan produced his one and only witness.
Oddly, the witness, who turned out to be the 13-year old son of the Bazaar Sergeant, could shed no light whatsoever on Brennan's reason for missing the parade, though he stated he had spent the afternoon in Brennan's quarters. The Prosecuting Officer cross-examined the boy to find out what he had been doing in Brennan's quarters and was told 'writing, reading, and doing sums'. Then in a confused final address to the Court, Brennan claimed that (a) he thought he was on the Convalescent List (b) that he was busy collecting the 'Punkah coolies' for their pay parade, and (c) that Mullins had not come to his room that afternoon. Finally, and no doubt in desperation, he referred to his record of service and his winning of the Victoria Cross. But alas this would not sway the President or Members of the Court who duly found him Guilty and sentenced 'the Prisoner No. 690 Quarter-Master Sergeant Joseph Charles Brennan of the 22nd Brigade, R.A., to be reduced to the rank and pay of Gunner and Driver of Royal Artillery'. Happily, Brennan, a married man, regained the rank of Sergeant but died, soon after his returning to England, at Elham, near Folkestone, on 24.9.1872.