Lot 186: Mrs J. Alice Orde (British, fl.1895-1899)

Lt. Col. John Francis Giradot (1829-1902), wearing brown coat and blue stock
signed on the obverse and dated A Orde/ 1900, gold frame, the glazed reverse with label inscribed Lt Col Girardot/ Survivor of the/ "Birkenhead"/ 2/ Mrs Alice Orde/ Inwoodbarn/ Tongham/ Surrey, set in leather travelling case
Oval, 60mm. (2 3/8ins.) high

Lt. Col. Girardot, son of Rev John Chaucourt Girardot and Sophia (née Chaplin) was born at Averham, Notts. He entered the Army in 1847. In 1852, he was in command of a detachment of the 43rd Light Infantry on board the troopship HMS Birkenhead that sank off the coast near Cape Town. Giradot was cast ashore with others on some driftwood and when this became entangled some distance from the shore he helped a soldier, who was unable to swim, by carrying him on his back. 436 lives were lost when HMS Birkenhead sank and only 207 survived, many due to the personal valour of Giradot. His letter to his father sent from Simon's Bay 1st March 1852 gives graphic details of the sinking and the loss of lives both by drowning and to sharks.
He fought in the Kaffir War of 1852-53 including the expedition over the Orange River under General Cathcart and the battle of Berea. At the close of the Kaffir War he proceeded with the 43rd to Madras and Bangalore. He became Adjutant of the Sherwood Foresters Militia in 1856, retaining that position until 1875 retiring in 1880 with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace for Nottinghamshire.
In 1894 he married Mary daughter of the late Mr James Evans of Trevanghan County Carmarthen. He died on September 11th 1902, the year of the 50th Anniversary of the sinking of HMS Birkenhead and is buried in Rownhams churchyard Southampton. The Oxfordshire Light Infantry (formerly the 43rd) placed a memorial in the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

This lot is sold together with clippings relating to Lt. Col. Giradot.