John William Hoggan was born in 1833 and was the son of the late Major General John Hoggan, Bengal Army and Colonel of the 45^th Bengal Native Infantry.[1]

He entered the Bengal Army in 1849, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1852. At the start of the Mutiny he was stationed at Ferozepore in the 45 ^th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry of which his father was still Colonel, although he had retired from the army in 1856. On 13 May 1857 about 300 of the 450 men of the regiment mutinied and during the night they looted and destroyed the mess house and set fire to the officers' bungalows of Her Majesty's 61^st Foot. The next morning they attempted to take the magazine which the 61^st had entrenched and controlled. This attempt resulted in the 61^st blowing the magazine. The 45 ^th then seized their arms and colours, and marched off in the direction of Farid Kot. About 150 men remained faithful and laid down their arms at the barracks of the 61^st.[2]

Lieutenant Hoggan was then attached to the Lahore Punjab Battalion on the 4^th of July 1857. He was one of the three original British Officers of the battalion. He was also responsible for raising the regiment, and was the first officer to fill to post of Second-in-Command in the regiment. The Lahore Punjab Battalion was designated the 17^th Punjab Infantry later in 1857. It was with this regiment that Lieutenant Hoggan served in the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857-58, and was present at the actions of Bhagonalo, Nugeena, Bareilly, and Mohunpore. In this last action Lieutenant Hoggan was severely wounded and Mentioned in Despatches. Captain Sam Browne, in command of a detachment in the Bareilly District, had determined the location of some mutinous forces under Nizam Allie Khan in the village of Mohunpore. Captain Browne had made the decision to dislodge them from the village and directed Lieutenant Hoggan with one company of the 17^th Punjab Infantry the task of clearing the village. He advanced in skirmishing order, at once entered the village, meeting with some opposition, but gradually driving the enemy before them, and setting fire to the village. It was during this engagement that Lieutenant Hoggan was severely wounded. He received Captain Browne's, "thanks for his endeavors on the occasion of the attack on the village."[3]

In 1861 he attained the rank of Captain. The 17^th Punjab Infantry in the post-mutiny reorganization had become the 29^th Bengal Native Infantry in 1861 and the 25^th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861. John William Hoggan was to stay with this Regiment and was to become its Colonel.

By 1875 he was a Lieutenant Colonel and the commanding officer of the 25^th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. He again saw active service in the Afghan War of 1878-80, and was present in the engagements of Saif-oo-deen and Ahmed Khel (clasp), being Mentioned in Despatches in both actions. He also took part in the march to Kandahar, and was present at the battle of Kandahar (clasp). He was again Mentioned in Despatches, and for his services received the medal with two clasps, the Kabul to Kandahar Star, and was made a Companion of the Bath. He had commanded his regiment throughout both campaigns from the 6^th of November 1878 to the end of October 1880. He became Colonel in 1880, and Major General in 1881. He retired in 1882 at the age of 49 with 33 years service.[4]

Major General John William Hoggan, CB lived in Edinburgh at 3 Montobello, Joppa, and died there on the 21^st of November 1900 at the age of 67.[5]

The two photos below have been scaned from: Shearer, Lt. Col. J.E., A History of the 1st Battalion 15th Punjab Regiment 1857-1937, Aldershot : Gale & Polden, Ltd, 1937, Left photo from opposite p. 11 and Right photo from opposite p. 36.

[2] Gimlette, G.H.D., A Postscript to the records of the Indian Mutiny , p. 155-7.

[3] London Gazette, 31 Aug. 1858. NOTE that: The Lahore Punjab Battalion was raised in 1857 and became the 17^th Punjab Infantry in the same year. They then became the 29^th then the 25^th Bengal Native Infantry in the same year of 1861.

[4] Shadbolt, Sydney H., The Afghan Campaigns of 1878-1880, London : 1882 , p. 281-2. London Gazette, 7 Nov. 1879, 30 Jul.1880, 3 Dec. 1880, & London Times, 24 Nov. 1900, p.8, col. b.

[5] Who Was Who 1897-1916, p.345.