John Vickery

John Vickery

Portrayed by Gaspard Ulliel (VERY unofficially; NPC)
Full Name	John Edward Vickery
Date of Birth	3rd March 1785
Father	James Vickery
Mother	Charlotte Vickery (nee von Alfeld)
Town Residence	In Spain with the Army
Branch of the Military	Light Infantry
Ship or Regiment	5th Battalion 60th Foot (Royal American) (Rifles)
Currently Enlisted?	Yes
Enlistment Date	1802
Current or Final Rank (if retired)	Captain
Major Engagements	Rolica, Vimeiro, Douro, Talavera, Fuentes de Onoro

Captain John Vickery is the younger son of the third Viscount Saltash and is an officer in the 60th Rifles. He is played by Sharpie (although on another board).

Family

Father: James Vickery, third Viscount Saltash

Mother: Charlotte Vickery (nee von Alfeld)

Older brother: Robert Vickery (b. 1782)

Younger sister: Emma Vickery (b. 1790)

Uncle: George Vickery, John Asquith

Aunt: Ariadne Vickery

Cousins: Georgiana, William, Laura, Miranda and Edward

Appearance and Personality

John Vickery by Sir Thomas Lawrence, c. 1825

At about 5'10" tall, Vickery is on the taller side of average, and carries himself with an upright confident bearing, whether walking or riding, that makes use of every inch of his height. The slenderness of his build also contributes to his appearance of being tall. He is 26, but has the confidence of a man older than that, which comes of his upbringing as a younger son of a member of the aristocracy.

He has the thin face common in Georgian gentry, and is good-humoured and quick to smile, although when angered his eyes take on a frosty expression. He wears the green jacket of the 60th, although the silver lace has tarnished somewhat by now, despite Cotton's efforts to keep it looking smart, and there is now a distinct dark stain corresponding to the scar on his side, acquired in a skirmish with French cavalry.

He enjoys a glass of good wine and intelligent conversation after dinner. He rarely gets so drunk he has to be helped home - such an occurrence has only happened once since his promotion to Captain. He enjoys a good segar or cheroot on occasion.

He has an eye for detail, and is quick-minded, alert and intelligent. He is confident and calm, able to make decisions and stick to them.

He is strict but fair with his men; he won't punish a whole group for one man's mistakes. He will not tolerate insolence or open disrespect, but expects his officers and NCOs to earn the men's respect. He respects those who earn it, whether they are superior or inferior to him, socially or in the Army's rank system, although he does expect his social inferiors to show proper deference. He looks out for those under his command and will back them against outsiders. For him, loyalty works both ways.

History and Childhood

John Edward Vickery is the second son of James Vickery, third Viscount Saltash, and his wife Charlotte, and was born in 1785 at Fallbrooke House in Hampshire, the family's country residence. His childhood was a happy one spent roaming the estate in company with his older brother and younger sister. He also displayed a penchant for practical jokes at a young age, recalling fondly the time he placed a toad on the breakfast table.

He went to school at Winchester, where he boarded despite the proximity of school and home. He displayed an acuity for languages and received a thorough grounding in the Classics.

Army Career

Captain Vickery in his campaign uniform, alongside an officer of the 27th

Captain Vickery has been in the 5/60th for six years, and was promoted to Captain in December 1808, when he was given command of his own company. He is strict, but fair, confident in himself. He is a gentleman, the youngest of two sons, with a younger sister. His family are landed gentry from Hampshire. When he left school, his uncle bought him an Ensigncy in the 45th Regiment, where he began to display a skill for soldiering that has stood him in good stead. His father purchased a Lieutenancy in the 69th, from where he transferred to the 5/60th in 1805, a few months before Trafalgar.

He trained with the 60th at their depot on the Isle of Wight, finding it strange that an officer should be expected to drill alongside the men. He understood the reasons for it, and grasped the drill quickly, moving on to learning to load and fire a rifle, something else he found strange and innovative. His three months it the training depot taught him the Rifles' usefulness and capabilities, giving him first-hand experience of life in the ranks at the same time, something he found it hard to adjust to at first, even though he did not live in the same room as the men. It has given him a deeper appreciation of life as a private soldier, which in turn means he respects them.

He is an adequate shot with a rifle, though by no means as skilled and keen-eyed as some of his men, finding that his talents lie in leading men and giving orders, rather than being in the line receiving them.

He saw action as a Lieutenant with the 60th at Rolica and Vimeiro in the summer of 1808, and was promoted to Captain in December 1808, a promotion that came by merit and not money, although his family is rich enough to purchase promotion for him. He is a good Rifles officer, intelligent, quick to grasp a situation and take advantage of it. He has found his niche in the Army and is keen to prove that the Rifles are worthy of their place in the Army.

Life as an Officer

Captain Vickery's signature

After two years as a Captain in an active theatre of war, he has quickly become experienced in his rank. He also has the confidence that comes from being brought up as a member of the aristocracy, coupled with a natural talent for soldiering. One of his darkest days came when his soldier-servant was flogged for stealing a watch, although Vickery was convinced that Cotton did not steal it but could not convince the court-martial of that.

Determined to lead from the front, Vickery has more than once been injured in action. In June 1809, he found himself on the wrong end of a French cavalry squadron, which over-ran his Company, leading to the capture of the Second Division's baggage train and some of his men. Vickery himself escaped the skirmish alive but with a gash in his side and a concussion that has meant he does not remember the events of that day.

Odds and Ends

He is a keen hunter, and prefers shooting to fishing.

His horses are called Brandy, Phoenix and Blossom. He also has a mule called Willow and has recently been sent Ajax, a gun-dog from home.

When at home, he is a member of Boodle's, as are his father and brother.