General Joseph Edwin Thackwell CB, 1894

Oil on canvas by J Sydney Willis Hodges (1829-1900), 1894.

Joseph Thackwell (1813-1900) served in the 22nd (The Cheshire) Regiment of Foot in Scinde in 1842-1843, under Sir Charles Napier, and was present at the Battle of Hyderabad on 24 March 1843. He also served in the 1844-1845 campaign in the southern Mahratta country, including the investment and capture of Forts Punallar and Pownghur. From 1852-1853, he was aide-de-camp to his uncle, General Sir Joseph Thackwell (1781-1859), commanding the Meerut Division, before returning to England to rejoin his regiment.

In the Crimean War (1854-1856), Thackwell was Brigade Major to the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division, taking part in the battles of Alma and Inkerman (where his horse was shot from under him), the Siege of Sevastopol and the repulse of the sortie on 26 October 1854. For his services during this campaign, Thackwell received the Crimean Medal with three clasps, the Sardinian, and Turkish medals, the Brevets (temporary promotion without higher pay) of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, was nominated a Knight of the Legion of Honour and received the 5th class of the Medjidie.