Bonjour,
Superbe brochette, félicitations !
Il est toujours paradoxalement plus difficile de retracer le parcours des officiers dans l'Armée Britannique - pas de dossier regroupant l"ensemble des informations comme pour la troupe (...mais classifier aussi vulgairement des gentlemen ne serait guère convenable !).
De plus, il appartenait d'après l'inscription au dos de la Médaille d'Abyssinie à l'Armée des Indes (ou plutôt une d'entre elles), et la collecte d'information à leur sujet est apparement assez complexe.
Cela dit, le Major John Thacker, du Bombay Staff Corps, était durant l'expédition d'Abyssinie "en charge du Dépôt à Sénafé, et des Dépôts à Antalo".
Il y avait été nommé par "Resolution of the Bombay Government" prise à "Bombay Castle, 30th September 1867" :
"The following establishment is approved for the Commissariat Department of the Abyssinian expedition:
(...)
Deputy Assistant Commissaries-General, 1st class, Captain Clarke, Captain Heysham (Madras Staff Corps), Major Thacker, and Captain Phelps."
Il sera cité par le "Major-General George Malcolm, C.R, Commanding 2nd Division Abyssinian Expeditionary Force, to the Deputy Adjutant-General, Abyssinian Expeditionary Force", dans son rapport daté du Camp Ashangi, le 5 Mai 1868 :
"The postal duty from Senafé to Antalo has been very satisfactorily performed by the sowars of the 10th Lancers and 12th Cavalry, whose conduct at the posts along the line of communication has been most exemplary.
I have especially to thank Major Thacker, Assistant-Commissary-General at Senafe, for his able management of the native carriage, and his general arrangements along the line of communication."
Il sera également cité dans le rapport du Lieutenant(Colonel A. W. Lucas, "Deputy Commissary-General, Abyssinian Expeditionary Force, Zoolla" au Deputy Adjutant-general, Army Head Quarters, daté du Camp Zoolla, le 20 Mai 1868 :
"The campaign having now terminated, and the embarkation of the army being so far advanced, I have the honour to forward the following report on the working of the Field Commissariat throughout the Expedition, for submission to his Excellency the Commander-in-chief.
2. The exceptional circumstances, and the very great difficulties under which the Commissariat operations have been carried on, are well known to his Excellency.
1st The short time in which the whole of the preparations had to be made ; the very difficult nature of the country; the feeding of the whole of the army, followers, and cattle having to be arranged for from India, Egypt, and England; the provisioning of the Force inland being almost entirely dependent on supplies from the sea-coast makes the present campaign the most difficult the Commissariat has ever entered upon.
3. At the period the Expedition was organized, the Commissariat Establishment in India had been reduced to the very lowest limit at which it was possible to carry on work in time of peace, the sudden and enormous pressure to collect and ship off the supplies required for 12,000 fighting men, 30,000 followers, and some 30,000 animals, compelled the Commissary-General at Bombay to weaken all Commissariat Out-Station offices, to strengthen the Presidency Office; hence, with the exception of commissariat officers and some few of the warrant and non-commissioned grades, the field establishment had to be formed from new and untried materials, and which necessarily added greatly to the labour and anxiety of the officers.
4. It will be observed from the accompanying nominal rolls of officers, warrant and non-commissioned officers, that although the organization was from Bombay, the Commissariat was drawn from the three presidencies and may, therefore be looked on as the Indian Commissariat
5. One list exhibits the general duties on which the several officers have been employed, and although it appears almost invidious to make a distinction where one and all have worked so well, the object I may safely mention of the whole having been to insure the success of the expedition and efficiency of the department. I must in justice bring to his Excellency's special notice the services of the undermentioned :—(...)
Major J. Thacker, in charge of the depot, Senafé, and out depots to Antalo, and who has laboured with unremitting zeal to insure efficiency on the highlands; and by the means of native carriage pushed on so large a quantity of supplies."
Robert Clement Markhams, dans son Histoire de l'Expédition d'Abyssinie, décrit le rôle de nos officiers du Commissariat :
"While all these elaborate preparations were in progress on the coast, the advanced brigade had remained inactive at Senafe, where it is true that time was given to cement a most friendly feeling with the natives of the surrounding country, and where those indefatigable Commissariat officers, Major Thacker and Lieut. Shewell, attended the native weekly markets, and established a thorough understanding between their department and the people. All that was required to obtain such supplies as the districts could afford to furnish, both here and at all other stations, was temper and management on the part of the Commissariat officers, which -was never wanting ; and time for the news of prompt payment and high prices to spread, which was seldom or ever allowed."
On retrouve trace de John Thacker dans l'équivalent Brtitannique des Annuaires Militaires (Hart's List) parmi les officiers retraités ; si ses services au Penjab (médaille de gauche) sont mentionnées, il n'en est pas de même pour l'Indian Mutiny ou même l'Abyssinie.
Il est possible qu'il s'agisse d'une homonymie ; je ne le pense pas, il s'agit certainement plutôt là pour les rédacteurs de la difficulté à rassembler l'information sur ses services pour l'Armée des Indes (les références le notant bien comme issu du "Bombay Staff Corps")
2nd Lieutenant : 11 Juin 1842
Lieutenant : 21 Janvier 1846
"Major General J. Thacker was present at the action at Ambapawnee. Served with the Bombay Column in the Punjaub campaign of 1848-49, including the siege and surrender of Mooltan (Medal with Clasp)."
Captain : 23 Novembre 1856
Major : 11 Juin 1862
Lieutenant-Colonel : 11 Juin 1868
Colonel : 11 Juin 1873
Major General le 17 Avril 1880 à titre honoraire, alors qu'il part à la retraite
Il décède en 1896 - il semble qu'il s'érait établi à Toronto.
Il aura un fils, lui aussi Major-Général.
Voilà de quoi défricher ; les attributions gravées / pressées sur les tranches des médailles du Penjab (Punjaub) et de la Révolte des Cipayes (Indian Mutiny) doivent permettre de confrimer et ou d'approfondir, en précisant peut-être ses affectations lors de ces deux conflits.
Salutations,
Jérôme
Accueil 
BOUTIQUE zitocland . 
