A Victorian book of condolence in memory of Major General John Edward Michell C.B., Royal Artillery, the black morocco binding with gilt tooled initials JEM dated 1893, the contents being letters to his widow many being from ranking Officers with whom Michell served in India, with a hand-written copy of the local church memorial and potted biography.

Major-General John Edward Michell, C.B., was born in September 1827 at Langport, Somerset, the only son of General Sir John Michell, K.C.B., Royal Artillery, and was named after his father and uncle, Brigadier Edward Thomas Michell, C.B., Royal Artillery. It was intended from the first that he should follow in the footsteps of his distinguished predecessors, and he entered the Royal Military Academy in May 1843, receiving his commission as head of the batch of Artillery officers in December 1846. He was posted to 2 Company, 6th Battalion, but the following February went to Gibraltar, to serve on the Staff of his father, who was then in command of the artillery at that Garrison, returning with him in 1848. He re-joined his Company in Bermuda in 1849, returning to England with them in 1851, and in August 1852 he was appointed to "C" Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, then based in Leeds, returning with them to Woolwich the following year. On the 18th March, 1854, "C" Troop sailed from Woolwich for War with Russia, the first of the Artillery to embark. Michell, together with one fourth of the troop, horses, and stores, sailed in the troopship Murcia, which, owing to having encountered bad weather, did not reach Constantinople until the 6th May. Upon arrival at Varna, Michell was promoted Captain in 1 Company, 11th Battalion, Royal Artillery, and left to join his new battery- "W" Battery, under the command of Captain Barker- on the 22nd July. The Battery was present at Alma, 20.9.1854: ´We advanced up the road to the right and had some wonderful practice at the columns already in retreat: the new fuzes and tubes worked admirably, and it was a sight to see the shrapnels bursting exactly over the poor devils´ (letter from the recipient to his father, quoted in Three Distinguished Gunners, refers). Upon arrival in Balaklava, Michell was involved in preparing the town´s defences: ´I am pretty hard worked, getting the artillery part of our position as strong as Sir Colin [Campbell] wishes. The enemy keep up a certain degree of excitement, hovering about nearly always in sight, but I don´t think they have much mind to come on´ (letter from the recipient, dated 23.10.1854, quoted in Three Distinguished Gunners, refers). This illusion was dispelled two days later at the Battle of Balaklava, 25.10.1854. ´The Thin Red Line´ On the morning of the 25th October, Michell was engaged in his usual duty of superintending the manning of the forts at Balaklava when he heard firing, immediately going up to Captain Barker´s tent. Finding him gone, Michell hastily drank a cup of coffee and continued after Barker up to the artillery position near to where Sir Colin Campbell´s Highlanders were stationed. Barker´s Battery was formed up on the left of the 93rd Highlanders, upon convenient ground near the hillock, when shots from the Russian batteries started to fall amongst them. The guns, which Michell had himself previously brought to this position, were at once turned on the Russian battery, and in a very few rounds compelled it to retire, but at the same time the Russian Cavalry came over the hill in large bodies. Spotting their quarry, the Russians in one grand line charged: ´Gathering speed at every stride, they dashed on towards that thin red streak topped with a line of steel. The Turks fired a volley at eight hundred yards and ran. As the Russians came within six hundred yards, down went that line of steel in front, and out rang a rolling volley of Minié musketry. The distance was too great, the Russians were not checked but swept onwards, here and there knocked over by the shot of our batteries, but ere they came within two hundred and fifty yards another volley flashed from the rifles. The Russians wheeled about and fled faster than they came.´ (Letters from The Crimea by W.H. Russell, The Times correspondent, refers). In his despatch, Sir Colin Campbell wrote: ´I beg to call Lord Raglan´s attention to the admirable conduct of Captain Barker, and the officers of the Field Battery under his orders, who made most excellent practice against the Russian cavalry and artillery while within range´ (London Gazette 12.11.1854). For his services in the Crimea Michell was promoted Brevet Major, November 1855, and was awarded the Turkish Order of the Medjidieh, and the Sardinian Al Valore Militaire. Lucknow Appointed to "E" Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, April 1855, Michell returned to England in June, bringing back with him 122 invalids, and joined his new troops at Christchurch. After a year stationed in Dublin, "E" Troop were hastily ordered to Woolwich to prepare for service in India, leaving for Calcutta on the Scotland in July 1857, and arriving in time for Christmas Day "when we had a thing called a turkey, and another curious thing called a plum pudding." Michell left the relative peace of Bernares for Lucknow on the 30th December, with 4 guns, 60 officers and men, and 166 horses, and in the course of the march took part in the storming and capture of Meeangunge under the command of Brigadier Sir Hope Grant, K.C.B., for which he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 31.5.1858). Upon joining the besieging army near Lucknow, Michell was in high spirits: "Colonel Wood comes up to assemble his new brigade, to consist of 6 troops of Horse Artillery, and 4 field guns, a force which if well kept together and well handled ought to produce an effect somewhat Napoleonic....I saw Sir Colin, who was very civil, remembering my face from Balaklava days" (letter from the recipient, dated 14.2.1858, quoted in Three Distinguished Gunners, refers). Following the successful re-capture of Lucknow, Michell commanded the Royal Horse Artillery at the affair of Tigree, the relief of Azimghur, the action near Azimutghur, operations in the jungle and capture of Jugdespore, and the attack and capture of Tiroul. Four times Mentioned in Despatches for his service during the Indian Mutiny, Michell was also promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, April 1859, and appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. Upon promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Michell was posted to the command of No.7 Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Horse Artillery, then stationed in Bermuda, finally joining them in June 1859, only to return home to England with them the following month. The return crossing was made in the Celestial, and during the voyage there was the unusual, if not unique, spectacle of a company of Artillery, headed by its commanding officer, swimming in the middle of the Atlantic. The vessel being becalmed for some time permission was given to lower some boats for a bathe, where all who could swim availed themselves of the opportunity. Promoted Brevet Colonel, April 1867, Michell´s next overseas appointment was to command the Royal Artillery at the Cape of Good Hope in 1871. Two years later he was appointed to "A" Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, stationed at Umballa, and from then on he remained in India for the rest of his active service. In 1877 he was involved in the visit to India of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, receiving the Empress of India´s medal. When War broke out with Afghanistan, Michell was appointed to the command of the Cavalry Brigade of the 2nd Khyber Division, Peshawar Valley Frontier Force, and took part in the Bazar Valley expedition, where he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 26.11.1880). Promoted Major-General, Michell retired from active service in May 1880, after 34 years with the Colours, with an annuity of £100. After a grand tour to inspect Artillery positions in Australia and New Zealand, he died at home in Tunbridge Wells in March 1883.