General John Archibald Ballard, CB, LL, DO, RE, (1829-1880)
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General John Archibald Ballard, CB, LL, DO, RE (1829-1880)
August 2, 1983
The memorial window to General Ballard is situated above the altar in the St. Peter Chapel.
The window features Christ with Martha and Mary at the raising of Lazarus, with the legend at the bottom-"Thy brother abell rise again."_S. JOHN XI. 23. The window is by Mr. A. Gibbs.
The brass memorial plate which forms part of the memorial has been moved to an adjoining wall, and is now situated on the south wall of the south Quire Transept. It reads:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF GENERAL JOHN ARCHIBALD BALLARD, C.B., L.L.D., ROYAL (LATE BOMBAY) ENGINEERS. HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELP GREATLY IN THE RUSSIAN WAR OF 1854.6, IN THE DEPENCE OF SILISTRIA, AT THE BATTLE OF GIORGEVO, AND IN THE ADVANCE TO BUCHAREST; ALSO AT THE BATTLE OF EUPATORIA, AT THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL, AT THE OCCUPATION OF KERTCH, AND IN ONTAR PASHA'S CAMPAIGN IN MINGRELIA, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF INGOUR, WHERE HE COMMANDED A TURRISIL BRIGADE:. WHEN ONLY A SUBALTERN OF ENGINEERS HE RECEIVED THE HONORARY RANk Or LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IN THE TURKISH ARDEY, THE MILITARY COMPANIONSHIP OF THE ONDER OF THE BATH, AND THE THIRD CLASS OF THE ORDER OF THE MEDJDIE.
IN 1856-7, HE SERVED AS ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER GENERAL WITH THE PERSIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, AND, IN 1857.8, DURING THE INDIAN MUTINY, HE HELD THE SAME POST WITH THE LAJPUTANA FIELD FORCE AND MALWA DIVISION Or THE INDIAN ARMY IN 1861, HE WAS APPOINTED MINT MASTER AT BOMBAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IN ADDITION, CHAIRBIAN OF THE BOMBAY PORT TRUST; TIE FORBEN POST HE HELD UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE SERVICE IN 1879.
HE WAS BORN ON THE 20TH JUNE, 1829, AND DIED SUDDENLY AT MOLOS, NEAR THE BATTLEFIELD OF THERMOPYLE, IN GREECE, ON THE 2ND APRIL, 1880, AND IS BURIED AT ATHENS
THE ABOVE WINDOW IS ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS OF THE CORPS Or ROYAL ENGINEERS.
The tablet to the memory of General John Ballard gives a very comprehensive account of his service. He obtained his commission in the Bombay Engineers in 1848 but volunteered to serve with Omar Pasha in the war against Russia.
Speaking of him Kinglake says: "Lieut.Ballard of the Indian Army coming hither of his own free will had thrown himself into the besieged town(Silistria) and whenever the enemy stirred, there was always at least one English lad in the Arab Tabja directing the counsels of the garrison, repressing the thought of surrender, and keeping the men in good heart." His calmness under fire gave him much influence over the Turkish soldiers.
He returned with the Turkish army to the Crimes and was present at the battle of Eupatoria. He later took part in the expedition to Kerch and later still at the relief of Kars he commanded a brigade of rifles. He received a C.B. although still only a subaltern in the British army. He became a Lieut-General at 48 and a general on his retirement in 1878.
Badge of a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, of which General John Ballard was a member.
After the Battle of Waterloo the Order was extended to include junior officers who had rendered valuable service, although it was later laid down that officers below the rank of major in the army should not be eligible for the award. It is therefore surprising (and as far as is known unique) that John Ballard should have been so decorated while still only a subaltern.
This may have been due to the fact that at the time he held the honorary rank of Lieut-Colonel in the Turkish army.
From the notebooks ‘The Naval and Military Memorials of Rochester Cathedral’ (1979)
by Roy Trett, OBE, TD,
Rochester Cathedral Chapter Library
Seventy-two brilliant stained glass windows were installed by prominent glaziers Clayton & Bell during the 1870s and 1880s.
Rochester Cathedral features an exceptionally large collection of Colonial-era military memorials and artefacts. This series has begun to highlight the stories behind these collections and their place in our global heritage.
