Private Henry Jordan

Private Henry Jordan was with the 9th Lancers during the Indian Mutiny. He was part of Colonel Greathed’s force that pursued the rebels in the area between the Ganges and the Jumna after the capitulation of the mutineers who were holding Delhi. They caught up with them at the town of Bolundshahar and Lt-Col Ouvry, commanding the regiment, led the 9th Lancers into the town when he saw the infantry holding back. They charged along the street and luckily there were few casualties from the musket fire from all sides. Captain Drysdale fell from his horse when it was shot and broke his collarbone. Lance-Corporal Robert Kells and Private Henry Jordan rescued him from being cut to pieces and the three of them reached safety. All three were recommended for the Victoria Cross but only Kells was given the award. Jordan had been badly wounded from a musket shot and died of his wound soon afterwards. For some reason, the rules of the VC at that time precluded him from receiving the medal posthumously.
There is no picture of Henry Jordan. The image accompanying this account is a detail from a watercolour by Orland Norie, of the 9th Lancers in action in 1857.

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