The Evolution of a Soldier
If you have read any of the Jack Lark books then it should not come as much of a surprise to read that I thoroughly love writing these novels. There is something rather wonderful in being able to control the events in a story over a period of time, and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy plotting Jack’s path. By writing a series, I am able to take him on a long, often perilous, journey and I am able to explore how his character is changed and shaped by the events and the wars I force him to endure.
One of my favourite parts in the whole process is the research. It is through writing Jack’s story that I have learned a huge amount of history that, in many cases, has largely been forgotten. It is only when I sit back and take stock of all the events he has witnessed and the places he has visited, that I start to realise quite how much ground he has covered. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to start building up a timeline to track Jack’s journey and the incredible historical moments his life touches on. I hope it will serve as a point of reference for new readers whilst acting as an interesting record for those who have followed Jack’s adventures from the outset.
The history is already written, but, as I continue with his story, Jack’s timeline will grow and grow.
1849-1854
November 1849
The execution of Mrs Manning, perpetrator of the ‘Bermondsey Horror’
Marie Manning and her husband were convicted of the murder of her lover and executed at a public execution at Horsemonger Lane Gaol, Southwark, London
Jack’s story: RASCAL
1850
Jack Lark works as a potboy in his mother’s gin palace in Whitechapel, London
Jack Lark attests as a soldier in the British Army
Jack’s story: ROGUE and RECRUIT
March 1854
Jack Lark becomes orderly to Captain Arthur Sloames
Jack’s story: REDCOAT
1854
Spring 1854
When Sloames dies, Jack Lark faces a choice. Stay as a common soldier, or become the officer he has always dreamed of being. In the end the decision is easy, and the Scarlet Thief is born
20 September 1854
The Battle of the Alma
An Anglo-French army invades the Crimea peninsula. Determined to stop them reaching the strategically vital port of Sevastopol, the Russian army makes a stand on the heights above the south bank of the Alma River
Jack’s story: THE SCARLET THIEF
1855
Jack Lark arrives in India under the alias Captain James Danbury
The Maharajah of Sawadh launches an attack on the British forces stationed at the cantonment of Bhundapur (fictional)
Jack’s story: THE MAHARAJAH’S GENERAL
1856
October 1856
Jack Lark is living in Bombay under the alias Lieutenant Fenris
5 December 1856
The Battle of Bushire
A British Expeditionary force storms the Persian fort of Reshire then moves to capture the port of Bushire
7 February 1857
The Battle of Khoosh-Ab
The British Expeditionary force under Major General Sir James Outram attacks the Persian army at Khoosh-Ab
Jack’s story: THE DEVIL’S ASSASSIN
1857
May 1857
Jack Lark returns to Bombay
11 May 1857
The Indian Mutiny begins
Mutineers from the East India Company army capture the city of Delhi
June 1857
Jack Lark is commissioned as an acting-lieutenant in Hodgson’s Horse
8 June 1857
Battle of Badli-ki-Serai
The Delhi Relief Force attack a blocking force of rebel sepoys at Badli-ki-Serai en route to Delhi
25 August 1857
Battle of Najafgarh
Brigadier General John Nicolson commands a column of British infantry and attacks a force of rebel sepoys threatening a relief column heading to Delhi
14 September 1857
The British assault on Delhi begins under the command of Brigadier General John Nicolson
Jack’s story: THE LONE WARRIOR
1859
March 1859
Jack Lark arrives in London and returns to his mother’s gin palace in Whitechapel
May 1859
Major Ballard’s party arrives in Paris
4 June 1859
Battle of Magenta
French and Sardinian armies attack the Austrian forces holding the town of Magenta in northern Italy
24 June 1859
Battle of Solferino
The French and Sardinian army clashes with Austrian forces around the town of Solferino, close to Lake Garda in northern Italy
Jack’s story: THE LAST LEGIONNAIRE
1859
16 April 1859
Jack Lark arrives in Boston and accepts the rank of sergeant in the 1st Boston Volunteer Militia
19 April 1861
Baltimore Riot
Rioters attack Union forces as they cross the city of Baltimore on their way to defend Washington
Jack Lark promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, 1st BVM
18 July 1861
Skirmish at Blackburn’s Ford
Units from the Union Army of North-eastern Virginia clash with Confederate soldiers from the Confederate Army of the Potomac near the Bull Run River, Virginia
21 July 1861
First Battle of Bull Run (Battle of First Manassas)
The Union army, under the command of Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, launches an ambitious flanking attack on the Confederate army holding the ground to the south of the Bull Run River, Virginia
Jack’s story: THE TRUE SOLDIER
1861
22 July 1861
The day after the First Battle of Bull Run – the broken Union army is in full retreat.
12th – 16th February 1862
Confederate forces defend Fort Donelson from a Union attack
6th-7th April 1862
The Confederate army, commanded by General Albert Sydney Johnston, launch an attack on Ulysses S. Grant’s Union forces encamped at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Jack’s story: THE REBEL KILLER
1863
St Valentine’s Day 1863
Jack has found his way to Nachitoches, Lousiana
Brannigan’s Cotton Train starts its journey
April 1863 Brannigan’s cross the Rio Grande into Mexico
Jack’s story: THE LOST OUTLAW