Victorian VC winner cabinet photo value
 

Hi,
I recently found a victorian Cabinet photo of a very distinguesed gentleman in an 'evening' jacket wearing his medals. One of these is a VC, so I purchased it to do further research.

Based on the other medals (and bars), the period of the photo, the gentlemans approximate age and the photographic studio, I have managed to identify the rescipient.

Colonel Patrick RODDY VC.
Of Irish birth, he won his VC during the Indian Mutiny on 27th September 1858. He also served in the Abyssinian War and the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He died on 21 November 1895 and is buried on Jersey. His VC appears to be in a private collection.

I would like to see the photograph reunited with the VC, but dont know what monetary value to attach to it. Could some of the members please offer some advice.

I will post an 'edited' picture of the photo as well as a close up of the medals.

Regards
Steven

Why crop out his face? He isn't exactly a current serving Special Forces soldier!

Interesting he has his VC second in line...

Family member was looking for a photo of him in this link;-
http://countylive.ca/blog/?p=10750

Recently had a similar experience with a Piper of the 3rd Bn, Tyneside Scottish, DOW in 1916. Family were researching him and had nothing at all, so returned the non-military items of him - photo as a child - original photo of his grave - birth certificate, etc at no cost.

Apparently there was floods of tears and received a wonderful "thank you" letter from the family. Made it all worth while.

Hello mates ---

Probably not relevant to the photo but mention in case it might be --

I have the medals of Roddy's grandson, Arthur Roddy Pressey. He was an early grad of the RNCC (Royal Naval College of Canada, class of 1913) & served in the RCN until 1946.

He was born in India & I have his typewritten memoir of his life written in the 1950's. Altho I have not read it for a while, I am certain he mentions his grandafther in the memoir.

RCN Bryan

Hi,
Was hoping to sell original to the owner of the medals and send a copy to the family, but maybe I might just send the original to family.

Would of course then post an unedited copy to the forum.

Steven

Roddy picture attached. If owner of medals interested in purchasing original photo, they may contact me via the forum.

Steven

Originally the Victoria Cross was worn as the recipient pleased, invariably being placed after the medal for the campaign in which the VC was awarded. A random circular display round the heart of decorations and medals was favoured the most. During 1881 it was ordered that VC was to follow the Order of the Indian Empire, and then in 1900 it was to be worn after the Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. The current position of before all other Orders, Decorations and Medals was decreed in 1902 by King Edward VII.

Marc :)

Thanks for posting the Roddy photo Steven,

RCN Bryan

Below is some info on Colonel Roddy's VC & medals taken from Ian Stewart's excellent Victoria Cross site:

Col Roddy's medals are shown as being in the Jersey Museum, St Helier

& att'd a photo of his grave in Mont a l'Abbey cemetery, Jersey.

RCN Bryan




Patrick,
RODDY


Rank Private Colonel


Force 1st Bn, King's ( Liverpool ) Regiment Oudh Military Police Cavalry


VC won Boiseux St Marc, France,
16 April 1918 Kuthirga, Indian Mutiny,
27 September 1858


London Gaz 22 May 1918 12 April 1859


Born Blandford Forum, Dorset,
3 November 1898 Elphin, Co Roscommon, Ireland,
17 March 1827


Died 16 September 1970,
Blandford Forum 21 November 1895,
Jersey


Grave Bournemouth Crematorium
St Saviour's Churchyard, St Helier Mont a l'Abbe ( New ) Cemetery, St Helier


Location
of VC Jersey Museum, St Helier Not publicly held


Medal entitlement of:
Colonel Patrick RODDY
Oudh Military Police Cavalry
Victoria Cross
Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
2 clasps:
"Defence of Lucknow" - "Lucknow"
Abyssinian War Medal ( 1867-68 )
Afghanistan Medal ( 1878-80 )
1 clasp:
"Ali Musjid"

& as a follow up ...

Photos of his grandson Arthur Roddy Pressey, OBE, RCN;
who's medals I have in my collection.

First taken when in RNCC (Royal Naval College of Canada) 1913.

& during 1920's (officer in the middle).

also included a photo of his medal group & his grave in Mount Pleasant cemetery in Toronto, Canada.

Commander Pressey was one of the originally qualified pre 2WW Anti Submarine specialists in the RCN.

RCN Bryan

Thanks for msg Steve, I agree they may well be privately held.

Do we have a member in Jersey that can attend the museum & see if in fact Col Roddy's VC & medals are there?


RCN Bryan

James William Adams
Born 24 November 1839
Cork, Ireland
Died 24 October 1903 (aged 63)
Ashwell, Rutland
Buried at Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Bengal Ecclesiastical Department
Rank Chaplain
Battles/wars Second Anglo-Afghan War
Awards Victoria Cross
Other work Honorary Chaplain to King Edward VII

James William Adams VC (24 November 1839 – 24 October 1903) was born in Cork and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the first clergyman to be awarded the VC and one of only five civilians.

DetailsReverend James William Adams was 40 years old, and a chaplain in the Bengal Ecclesiastical Department (serving as chaplain to the Kabul Field Force), British Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when on 11 December 1879 he carried out the actions for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 24 August 1881 (dated 26 August 1881) and read:

War Office, August 24, 1881.
THE Queen having been graciously pleased, by Warrant under Her Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the 6th of August, 1881, to direct that the decoration of the Victoria Cross shall be conferred on Members of the Indian Ecclesiastical Establishments who may be qualified to receive the same, in accordance with the rules and ordinances made and ordained for the government thereof, provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving under the orders of a General or other Officer in command of Troops in the Field when he performed the act of bravery for which it is proposed to confer the decoration :—

Her Majesty has accordingly been pleased to signify Her intention to confer this high distinction on the undermentioned gentleman, whose claim to the same has been submitted for Her Majesty's approval on account of his conspicuous bravery in Afghanistan as recorded against his name, Bengal Ecclesiastical Establishment, late Chaplain to the Kabul Field Force, The Reverend J. W. Adams

During the action at Killa Kazi, on the 11th December, 1879, some men of the 9th Lancers having fallen, with their horses, into a wide and deep "nullah" or ditch, and the enemy being close upon them, the Reverend J. W. Adams rushed into the water (which filled the ditch), dragged the horses from off the men upon whom they were lying, and extricated them, he being at the time under a heavy fire, and up to his waist in water.

At this time the Afghans were pressing on very rapidly, the leading men getting within a few yards of Mr. Adams, who having let go his horse in order to render more effectual assistance, had eventually to escape on foot.For the above actions the Adams was recommended for the VC by Lord Roberts. Along with the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic chaplains who also accompanied the force, Adams was three times Mentioned in Despatches during the campaign. He received his medal from Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on 1 December 1881 Adams was appointed an honorary chaplain to the Prince of Wales on 7 May 1900, and following the Prince's accession as King Edward VII he was confirmed in the post of Honorary chaplain to the King on 23 July 1901.
Adams died on 24 October 1903 and is buried at Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland, England where he was Rector. He had previously been the Rector of Postwick and Vicar of Stow Bardolph, Norfolk. His memorial was restored in 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_William_Adams
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=10445153
Attached Images VCJamesWilliamAdams.jpg (10.1 KB, 0 views)
Victoria Cross.jpg (38.5 KB, 0 views)

__________________

Colonel Patrick Roddy VC (17 March 1827 – 21 November 1895) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 31 years old, and an ensign in the Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Ensign (now Lieutenant) Patrick Roddy
Date of Act of Bravery, 27th September, 1858

Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., Commanding Oudh Force, bears testimony to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Roddy, on several occasions. One instance is particularly mentioned.

On the return from Kuthirga of the Kuppurthulla Contingent, on the 27th of September, 1858, this officer, when engaged with the enemy, charged a Rebel (armed with a percussion musket), whom the Cavalry were afraid to approach, as each time they attempted
to do so, the Rebel knelt and covered his assailant; this, however, did not deter Lieutenant Roddy, who went boldly in, and when within six yards, the Rebel fired, killing Lieutenant Roddy's horse, and before he could get disengaged from the horse, the Rebel attempted to cut him down. Lieutenant Roddy seized the Rebel until he could get at his sword, when he ran the man through the body. The Rebel turned put to be a subadar of the late 8th Native Infantry,—a powerful man, and a most determined character.

He served in the Abyssinian War and the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He later achieved the rank of colonel. He died at Jersey, Channel Islands on 21 November 1895.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Roddy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Army
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=11792309
http://www.armynavyairforce.co.uk/indian_army.htm

Col Patrick Roddy VC
 

As a family member, I have both the original photo and the VC medal.