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303:. He later described the privations of the retreat, recalling that he and his fellows had nothing to eat but some raw pork, cut from some pigs which had been caught. He could not stomach it and instead ate some raw kale which he'd taken from a garden. He also recalled repairing the shoes of soldiers during the long walk.
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Jack was present at the Battle of
Waterloo, and like other survivors of the battle, received two years extra pensionable service. Following the battle he served in France with the occupying army. In 1821 he served in Ireland and in 1823 was sent to Canada with the 52nd Foot. Jack was discharged on
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where he was in the leading file during the storming of the fortress. While injured by a musket ball in the left side during the siege of
Badajoz in 1812, he was dragged to safety by a comrade and recovered enough to continue the campaign Surviving the sieges, around the time of the storming of San
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Sebastian (August 1813) the officers of the regiment provided him (among other volunteers for the forlorn hopes of Cuidad
Rodrigo and Badajoz) with a medal, commemorating his bravery as a "Valiant Stormer". He was also qualified to wear a laurel wreath badge with the letters 'V. S.'.
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in 1780, he was baptised with his twin sister, Janet, on 19 March. Jack worked as a farm servant for the parish minister, Rev. Alexander
Johnston, for a wage of £3-10-0 per annum. Deciding to learn a trade, Jack moved to
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On discharge, he didn't wish to remain in Canada and, having no money to get home, he joined the Royal Navy in
Halifax presumably joining a ship which was bound for home. On his return to Britain, he disembarked at
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in 1847 (awarded only to living veterans of the
Peninsular War), with twelve clasps, giving him a unique collection of medals. He is also the subject of a photograph, a rare distinction for a private soldier.
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On discharge, he was described as "a gallant soldier and a good, honest man", of 5'9½" height, grey eyes, brown hair and a "fresh complexion".
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as a paid substitute for a drafted local landowner's son. His brother
Charles also joined at this time. While serving in
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The medals were at one time sold by the family, but were later repurchased and are currently held by his descendants.
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Jack was in receipt of a
Chelsea out-pension of 1/1d per day, which he supplemented by work as a shoemaker in
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The son of
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On 5 May 1805 Jack transferred in the
Regular Army, joining the
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and took up shoemaking. In 1803 Jack joined the Aberdeenshire
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392:"Adventures of a Soldier"' Edward Costello, p. 167
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217:. Present at twelve battles in the
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171:Ciudad Rodrigo Stormers Medal
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402:Ancestry Records: John Jack
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188:Shoemaker
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83:1805–1826
20:John Jack
352:New Byth
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156:Toulouse
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265:militia
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209:in the
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