Single Campaign Medals 869


Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Serjt. Major John McNamara, 3rd Bn. Bengal Art.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare


£400-£500


John McNamara, a groom from Kilkishen, County Clare, attested at Limerick in 1839 as a gunner, Horse Artillery, for life, and sailed for India on the Hindoostan.


In rank of Sergeant Major on medal roll which notes: ‘With Moveable Column under Brigadier Showers in Delhi district from 2nd October - 7th November. Lucknow. Promoted Ensign.’ Roll dated 1st October 1858, Meerut.


Stubbs’ List of Officers of the Bengal Army states: ‘J. McNamara. In India January 1839. Artillery Recruit. Sergeant Major 3rd Battalion. Ensign. Distinguished in several actions. 9th October 1858.’


During the Indian Mutiny there were eleven such promotion awards made to senior N.C.O’s of the H.E.I.C. Army. This recognition was given in the case of gallantry as they did not qualify for the award of the D.C.M.


This rare award was made eight days after the medal roll had been submitted, hence the rank of Sergeant Major and not Ensign on the medal.


By a letter from the Court of Directors, dated 26th April 1856, G.O. 3rd July, the Governor General in Council was authorised to confer upon European Warrant and Non Commissioned Officers who had distinguished themselves in action the rank of Ensign in the Infantry, unattached. This distinction was accompanied by a grant of 1,000 rupees in aid of the necessary outfit for a commissioned officer.


McNamara transferred to the Royal Artillery in 1862, as Ensign and Quartermaster 22nd Brigade R.A. He died at Agra Cantonments on 2 October 1864, aged 44.


x870


Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (W, Tuppin. 2nd Bn. Mily. Train) good very fine


£500-£550


Only 17 medals issued to the 2nd Military Train with the single clasp for Lucknow.


William Tuppin was wounded by a sabre cut on his head in the defence of the Alum Bagh, Lucknow, 25 February 1858.


The 2nd Military Train was en route to the war in China when it was diverted to Calcutta on news of the Mutiny outbreak. On arrival it was immediately converted to Light Cavalry, using horses from a recently disarmed native regiment. It served entirely as Light Cavalry throughout the campaign, and with great distinction at a time when the British forces were very short of cavalry. The regiment was awarded two Victoria Crosses for the action at Azimgurh.


The 2nd Military Train was also prominently in action during the fourth attack on the Alum Bagh on 25 February 1858, in what was the largest attempt made by the rebel garrison to overrun the Alum Bagh defences. In action that day the Military Train was ordered by a staff officer, apparently against Outram’s wishes, to attack and capture two enemy guns which were firing on the defences prior to an infantry assault. But this required them to pass the right flank of the main enemy army of up to 30,000 men, drawn up ready to attack Outram’s right. As they closed with the guns, which were supported by a strong infantry guard, Major Robertson ordered the charge and the men of the 2nd Military Train cut down the enemy gunners and took the guns. Joined by the single squadron of Hodson’s Horse, who rode up in support, they pursued the infantry guard and scattered them, inflicting serious casualties.


By some miracle, though fired on straight away, and at close range, only eight men of the Military Train were wounded in the action, though one later died. It is said that in honour of their gallantry, the two captured guns were placed in front of the Military Train lines behind the Alum Bagh and ‘all the infantry turned out to cheer the Battalion on its return to camp.’


The regiment received the highest compliments for its services from the Governor General upon its departure from India after the campaign.


William Tuppin was born in the Parish of Brighton, Sussex, and originally attested for the 17th Lancers at Brighton on 22 March 1855. He transferred to the Military Train on 18 October 1856, and joined from England on 6 February 1858. He was appointed Shoeing Smith on 1 April 1860, and was discharged at Dublin on 21 March 1867, being then ‘in possession of two Good Conduct Badges - also of the Medal for India, with Lucknow clasp.’ Sold with copied discharge papers, medal roll entry and a copy of Peter Duckers’ article The Military Train 1857-59. An unusual cavalry regiment in the Indian Mutiny.


871


Shown in Asplin’s roll as 88th Regiment. Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Robt. Biggs 86th Regt.) suspension re-affixed, nearly very fine


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


£160-£200


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260  |  Page 261  |  Page 262  |  Page 263  |  Page 264  |  Page 265  |  Page 266  |  Page 267  |  Page 268  |  Page 269  |  Page 270  |  Page 271  |  Page 272  |  Page 273  |  Page 274  |  Page 275  |  Page 276  |  Page 277  |  Page 278  |  Page 279  |  Page 280  |  Page 281  |  Page 282  |  Page 283  |  Page 284  |  Page 285  |  Page 286  |  Page 287  |  Page 288  |  Page 289  |  Page 290  |  Page 291  |  Page 292  |  Page 293  |  Page 294  |  Page 295  |  Page 296  |  Page 297  |  Page 298  |  Page 299  |  Page 300  |  Page 301  |  Page 302  |  Page 303  |  Page 304  |  Page 305  |  Page 306  |  Page 307  |  Page 308  |  Page 309  |  Page 310  |  Page 311  |  Page 312  |  Page 313  |  Page 314  |  Page 315  |  Page 316  |  Page 317  |  Page 318  |  Page 319  |  Page 320  |  Page 321  |  Page 322  |  Page 323  |  Page 324  |  Page 325  |  Page 326  |  Page 327  |  Page 328  |  Page 329  |  Page 330  |  Page 331  |  Page 332  |  Page 333  |  Page 334  |  Page 335  |  Page 336  |  Page 337  |  Page 338  |  Page 339  |  Page 340  |  Page 341  |  Page 342  |  Page 343  |  Page 344  |  Page 345  |  Page 346  |  Page 347  |  Page 348  |  Page 349  |  Page 350  |  Page 351  |  Page 352  |  Page 353  |  Page 354  |  Page 355  |  Page 356  |  Page 357  |  Page 358  |  Page 359  |  Page 360  |  Page 361  |  Page 362  |  Page 363  |  Page 364  |  Page 365  |  Page 366  |  Page 367  |  Page 368  |  Page 369  |  Page 370  |  Page 371  |  Page 372  |  Page 373  |  Page 374  |  Page 375  |  Page 376  |  Page 377  |  Page 378  |  Page 379  |  Page 380  |  Page 381  |  Page 382  |  Page 383  |  Page 384  |  Page 385  |  Page 386  |  Page 387  |  Page 388  |  Page 389  |  Page 390  |  Page 391  |  Page 392  |  Page 393  |  Page 394  |  Page 395  |  Page 396  |  Page 397  |  Page 398  |  Page 399  |  Page 400  |  Page 401  |  Page 402  |  Page 403  |  Page 404  |  Page 405  |  Page 406  |  Page 407  |  Page 408  |  Page 409  |  Page 410  |  Page 411  |  Page 412  |  Page 413  |  Page 414  |  Page 415  |  Page 416  |  Page 417  |  Page 418  |  Page 419