Those Who Went Before

Madras Christian Cemetery

A few years ago I visited the cemetery of a major church in Chennai, India. Cemeteries are located sparsely in India since the vast majority of the deceased cremated. Cemeteries are mainly used by minority populations of Christians and Muslims.

This particular cemetery was an old one that the British established back in the late 1700s or early 1800s. I was struck by the heroic epitaphs which revealed how they lived and died a few centuries ago. So many long forgotten stories.

One epitaph in particular caught my attention and so I decided to see if I could find out more about the guy.

John Noble's Resting Place

NAT 1779
OB XVI. July 1827
AET 48

Here Rest
The Earthy Remains
Of
John Noble C. B.
Founder Of The Corps
Of Horse Artillery
On The Madras Establishment

Distinguished By All That
Adorns The Soldier The Citizen
And The Christian The Ardour
Of A Chivalrous Spirit Tempered
By Sound Judgment And Sustained
By A Just Confidence In His Own
Resources Generous And Warm
Affections Regulated By Strict
Integrity And The Crown Of His
Other Virtues Unaffected And
Humbly Piety

After A Brilliant Career Of
Military Service He Returned
From The Short Enjoyment Of
His Well Earned Honours In His
Native Land To Lay His Ashes In
This Theatre Of His Former Glory

G.552

Royal Horse Drawn Artillery

A few days later I googled him and found some hits that revealed more about his life. I discovered that most of the resources on his life are available in Google books. Apparently Noble was a good friend of the Duke of Wellington. You history lovers out there will remember him as the able British commander who defeated Napoleon at the decisive battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Duke of Wellington

Here is Col. Noble's obituary;

THE LATE. COL. NOBLE

We have to add another to the long list of distinguished individuals whom this present year has taken from amongst us, in recording the demise of Lieut.-Colonel John Noble, of the Madras Artillery, Companion of the Bath, in his 48th year: which event took place during the night of the 16th instant, on board the Roxburgh Castle, when she had just completed her voyage from England.

The military career of Lieut.-Colonel Noble, C. B., was equally brilliant and useful. He participated in most of the principal services of the coast army, during the last 32 years, and was, on all occasions, distinguished for judgment, spirit, and decision. He formed the noble corps of horse artillery, both European and native, for which command he was selected in 1805, by Sir John Cradock, on the recommendation of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, whose confidence on service, and whose friendship in private life, Lieut.- Colonel Noble enjoyed and merited.

An obituary notice is, generally speaking, of all things the most difficult to pen. There are the many to conciliate and the few to satisfy; but, in the instance of Lieut.-Colonel Noble, the suffrages of most men will surely be united ; for while few have attained a more honourable distinction as a soldier, still fewer have acquired an equal degree of love and esteem as members of society. He had the happy talent to command without severity, and to preserve discipline and good order without losing the affections of his officers and men. He ruled through the medium of attachment, and those who served under him were professionally efficient and privately happy. He may, in word, without out disparagement to others, and without the fear of envy, (for envy dwells not in the tomb,) be held out as an example to the generality of those he has left behind him. His abilities were of the first order; and his tact and observation, aided by experience, had gained for him an unusual knowledge of his profession. He was pious without ostentation, just from principle, friendly from feeling, generous from the nobleness of his nature, brave and enterprising from a chivalric spirit, decided from an excellent judgment and consequent self-confidence. Character distinguished him, truth guided him, and honour accompanied him. He is gone! and his fame is the comfort and consolation of his surviving friends.—Mad.Gov.Gaz. July26,

Madras Horse Artillery in Action

It seems to me that this man was a Christian, a warrior, and a gentlemen. A lot has been recorded about his military career, I wish more had been recorded about his walk with the Lord as he served in Southeast Asia. It was once said, "how often faithful work is forgotten, and forgotten work is recorded above."


Soli Deo Gloria

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text