| About all editions : | | In the British Medical Journal Obituary of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals Joseph Jee, it states '... no mere man ever deserved the Victoria Cross more than this gallant non-combatant'. Joseph Jee wasa born on 9 February 1819 at Hartshill, Atherstone, Warwickshire, the son of Christopher Preston Jee Esq: in 1860 he married Nora Carola Riley, the daughter of Charles Riley Esq., Barraster-at-Law. Educated at Universities and Medical Schools in London, Edinburgh and Paris, he qualified MRCS in 1841, and the following year was commissioned into the Army as Assistant Surgeon to the 15th Hussars. Soon afterwards he transferred to the 1st Royal Dragoons, and in 1854 was promoted to the 78th (Seaforth) Highlanders. He served with that regiment in the Persian Campaign in 1857 and was present at the Battle of Kooshab when his charger was shot under him, and also at the Bombardment of Mohammen, at which he was awarded the Medal at Clasp. Upon the outbreak of the Mutiny his battalion was hurried to India, and Surgeon Jee was present at Relief and Defence of Lucknow, the Action at Alumbagh, the final Capture of Lucknow, the Rohilkund Campaign and the Capture of Bareilly. But it was at Lucknow that he displayed that extraordinary devotion and gallantry which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. 'For most conspicuous gallantry and important services on the entry of the late Major-General Havelock's relieving force into Lucknow, on the 25th September 1857, in having, during action (when the 78th Highlanders, then in possession of the Char Bagh, captured two 9-pounders at the point of the bayonet), by great exertion and devoted exposure, attended to the large number of men wounded in the charge, whom he succeeded in getting removed on cots and the backs of their comrades, until he had collected the dhooly-bearers who had fled. Subsequently on the same day, in endeavouring to reach the Residency with the wounded men, Surgeon Jee became besieged by an overwhelming force in the Mote Mehal, where he remained during the whole night and the following morning, voluntarily and repeatedly exposing himself to a heavy fire in proceeding to dress the wounded men who fell while serving a 24-pounder in a most exposed position. He eventually succeeded in taking many of the wounded through a crossfire of ordnance and musketry safely into the Residency by the river bank, although repeatedly warned not to make the perilous attempt.' He transferred to the Royal Dragoons in 1864 and became Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals four years later. Appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath 1859, he retired with the rank of Deputy Surgeon General in 1868. In the year of his death Joseph Jee was appointed an honorary Surgeon to HM Queen Victoria. Joseph Jee was a man greatly admired 'known to his friends as a most honourable man; a complete Englishman in his love of sport'. He was a dedicated salmon fisherman and a deadly shot having won the Pigeon Shooting Grand Prize at Monte Carlo. He died at the age of 80 years at his home in Quenilborough Hall, Queensborough, near Leicester on 17th March 1899. Text supplied by Royal Army Medical Corps Historical Museum. |
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