Watch List notes:

An Intriguing Original Defender's Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Acting-Sergeant John Bonnetta, 32nd Light Infantry, of Truro, Cornwall, who apparently served as one of four superintendents of the mining party during the Defence of Lucknow, and was named and given an unofficial mention for 'important services' in the written report made by Captain Crommelin, Chief Engineer. Another of the four superintendents was none other than William Dowling, 32nd Foot, who received a Victoria Cross for spiking the enemy guns, comprising: Indian Mutiny, 1857-59, single clasp, Defence of Lucknow (J. Bonnetta, 32nd L.I.); suspension at some stage crudely refitted, polished, with minor edge bruises, good fine. Private John Bonnetta was born c.1831 in Ladosk, Truro, Cornwall, and worked as a Labourer, whilst also having two years' experience with the Royal Cornwall Rangers Regt of Militia before his attestation for Army service on 4 December 1854. Joining the 32nd (Duke of Cornwall's) Light Infantry, he served in India and was present during the famous Defence of Lucknow as one of the 'original defenders' of the Residency. Frustrated in their attempts to take the Residency by force, the enemy attempted to breach the walls by mining, but failed in their attempt to undermine the Redan. In response, and given the number of Cornishmen in the 32nd Foot, a number of original defenders with mining experience (amongst whom, we will later learn, Bonnetta was one) were drafted in to take counter-measures. These resulted in the successful destruction of two nearby buildings, one of which had housed a particular enemy sharpshooter who had caused multiple casualties amongst the defenders. This mining party also launched several aggressive sorties, which led to the spiking of a number of troublesome enemy guns, one of which was led by William Dowling, 32nd Foot, who was later awarded the Victoria Cross. At the end of the siege, Captain Crommelin, the Chief Engineer, wrote a report to the Governor-General in which he commented: 'I cannot close this report without noticing in the most favourable manner, the important services performed by the undermentioned soldiers, as superintendents of the miners – A/Sergeants Cullimore, Banetta [sic], and Farrer, and Corporal Dowling, all of the 32nd Regiment.' (as mentioned in the Journal of the Victoria Cross Society, October 2012, pg.12). Despite the typographic error, it appears beyond reasonable doubt that the 'Banetta' mentioned is the same 'Bonnetta' as correctly impressed on the above medal, given the absence of any other comparable names amongst the ranks of the 32nd Foot. It is also worthy of note that he was at that time a superintendent, serving with the acting rank of Sergeant in this interesting and strategically significant mining party. Owing to his gradual loss of the use of several fingers of his hand, he served for a time with the Army Hospital Corps between 1 March 1860 and 30 April 1862, before rejoining the 32nd, and then being finally discharged to pension on 28 October 1873.