Casualty Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 2 Clasps: Lucknow, Defence of Lucknow awarded to Private J. Pitts, 90th Regiment of Foot Perthshire Light Infantry who saw service in Indian during the Indian Mutiny who was one of the 440 men of his regiment, who h

Casualty Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 2 Clasps: Lucknow, Defence of Lucknow awarded to Private J. Pitts, 90th Regiment of Foot Perthshire Light Infantry who saw service in Indian during the Indian Mutiny who was one of the 440 men of his regiment, who having formed part of Sir Henry Havelocks first relief force, then formed part of the defence of Lucknow through to 22nd November 1857. John Pitts is noted as having died on the Line of March on 5th May 1858 most likely as a result of disease. Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 2 Clasps: Lucknow, Defence of Lucknow (JOHN PITTS. 90TH LT. INFY.) John Pitts was born in Alton in 1838. He enlisted in the 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight on 8th November 1855 at the age of 17 years and 7 months. He gave his occupation as Labourer. His height was 5ft 4ins and he received a bounty payment of 9.2s.6d plus an extra 1s. After service in Parkhurst, Portsmouth and Fermoy he transferred as a Volunteer to the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry on 1st March 1857. On his transfer Pitts was given the regimental number 99. In April 1857 the 90th Regiment embarked ten companies strong at Portsmouth in two transports, the Himalaya and the Transit, for service in China. Pitts was a member of one of the companies under Colonel Campbell in the Himalaya. En route, however, the main body of the regiment was diverted to India and without waiting for the other three companies, which had been shipwrecked in the Transit, landed at Calcutta in mid-July 1857 and marched up country to join the force under Major General Sir James Outram. This force in turn joined up with Brigadier General Sir Henry Havelocks Allahabad Moveable Column at Cawnpore to form the First Relief Force which fought its way into Lucknow on 25th September 1857. Following the subsequent relief and evacuation of Lucknow in November, the 90th Regiment (by then reinforced with the companies from the Transit) was part of the force under Outram which held the garrison at Alum Bagh until March 1858 when it joined with troops under Sir Colin Campbell which took part in the final operations which resulted in the capture of Lucknow on 21st March 1858. The Regiment remained in Lucknow until 23rd April on 12 May it inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy at Sirsee and thereafter was employed on harassing duties. It finally left India on 30 September 1869. John Pitts died on 5th May 1858 whilst in India and the Regimental Casualty Return for September 1858 states that he died on the Line of March probably from some form of sickness. He was one of 14 officers and 312 ncos and men to die or be killed in action during the campaign. Nearly Extremely Fine