The Lodge of Dunbar Castle No.75 Sergeant John Penn One of the “Gallant 600”. Lodge Tyler 1882-1886 Bro. Stuart J. Robertson, Provincial Grand Secretary, Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lothian
Sergeant John Penn was a well-respected Dunbar resident, whose military record was acknowledged due to his many awards for gallantry and soldiership. He joined the army following in his father’s footsteps. Penn had a colourful record as his career progressed. He was six times promoted to Corporal and three times to Sergeant, and despite being entered fourteen times in the regimental defaulters book, and being the subject of five courts martial, he received three good conduct awards. Having served and fought in the Indian Sikh wars at Moodkee, Sabraon, Goudalapore, Chillianwalla and Goojerat where he was seriously wounded in the leg and shoulder. Latterly he joined the 17th Lancers on their way to the Crimea and the war against Russia. He took part in the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava and was wounded again, but managed to return safely to his own ranks after a brutal and vicious attack by the Russian cannon, firing grape and mortar into the fighting throng. In his time, John Penn was the most decorated soldier in the British Army, with no fewer than 11 awards for bravery.