Single Campaign Medals 450
The interesting Indian Mutiny Medal to Captain James Jenkins Blair who was firstly attached to the Meerut Volunteer Horse (Khakee Ressalah) and later Mayne's Horse, two of the most iconic regiments raised during the mutiny. The lot includes a copy on CD of his diary for 1863 describing life in Central India including a tiger shoot in which his Commanding officer lost his arm after being mauled by a tiger
Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Ensn. J. J, Blair) official correction to initials, ‘Civil Service’ officially erased after his name but clearly visible ghosting remains, very fine and better
£500-£600
James Jenkins Blair was part of a cadre of Indian Army officers forming what were called “Military Men in Civil Employ”. Their medal rolls appear among the Civilian Lists in L/MIL/5/86. Medals from these lists come to the market regularly and most, if not all, have an “official erasure” after their name. The light skimming to the aforementioned medal to Blair shows the ghosting of “Civil Service” clearly confirming how these medals were named prior to erasure.
Military Men in Civil Employ can be traced back to the early part of the 19th century when certain Governor-Generals and Administrators thought the over-stretched ranks of the Civil Service should be bolstered by well bred, highly intelligent officers from the Presidential armies. These positions became highly sought after as pay and conditions were far superior to that of a military officer. Obviously the Civil Service, thought that the introduction of inferior army officers into their ranks would undermine their status as the elite of the Indian Administration. By the time of the Mutiny there were large numbers of “Military Men in Civil Employ” throughout India. All were classified as “Civilians” with the same rates of pay and conditions as comparable Civil Servants. They retained their military rank and were only “promoted” by time served.
The anomaly in the naming of the mutiny medals between those of the Bengal Civil Service proper and those Military Men in Civil employ was solved by simply officially erasing the words “Civil Service” from the latter’s medals but allowing them to retain their military rank. No Government Order (G.O.) makes mention of this so it must have been authorised somewhere in the civil administration. No complaints from any recipient of these medals can be found in the records.
James Jenkins was born at Mominabad, India, on 27 October 1840, the son of Brigadier James Blair who commanded the Cavalry Division of H.H. The Nizam's army. Educated at Mr Hodge’s, St. Andrews, Scotland, and Addiscombe, he was commissioned Ensign on 13 December 1856 and arrived at Fort William, Calcutta, on 3 January 1857, to do duty with the 6th N.I. at Allahabad (who Mutinied on 6 June 1857). He transferred to the 31st N.I. (who remained mostly loyal during the Mutiny) on 3 April 1857, and was promoted Lieutenant on 30 April 1858, and Captain on 13 December 1868.
Jenkins served in the Meerut Volunteer Cavalry, June - August 1857, in the Delhi and Meerut Districts, being present at the actions of Sikree, Barote and Galowlee. He is described as “behaved gallantly and often engaged”. He also served with the 7th Punjab Infantry in Brigadier Seaton's Column from November 1857 to February 1858, and was present at the actions of Gungaree, 14 December 1857; Patualu, 17 December 1857; Mynpoorie, 27 December 1857; and Bowgong, 7 April 1858. He saw further service with Mayne's Horse with General Michel's Force in pursuit of Tantia Topee and Rao Sahib during the months of September - November 1858, and was present at the affair at Korai, 25 October 1858. He served with General Napier’s, Colonel Riche’s, and Captain Roome’s flying Columns from January - September 1859, in the Seronge jungles and those on the Saugor Frontier, and was present at the affairs of Richwa, 16 May 1859; Goonapoorie, 23 June 1859, and several minor ones. He was Mentioned in Despatches by Captain Roome, Commanding Basoda Field Force, on 19 August 1859, for his gallant charge against the enemy in which Mayne’s Horse sabred at least 100 mutineers. He was thanked by the Government for good service during the Mutiny.
Blair left Mayne's Horse as its longest serving officer in April 1864, and entered the Political Department. He was appointed Assistant Agent to His Excellency the Viceroy at Mount Aboo in Rajpootana and subsequently Resident of Tonk during the minority of the Rajah. Placed in such a high position at the age of 26 he came to the attention of the Governor-General Lord Mayo who declared that he was the “first of our rising Political Officers”. His report on the Tonk State was brought to the attention of the Duke of Argyll who declared it “the best of its kind”. Between 29 January and 7 February, 1870, he entertained the Duke of Edinburgh at Bhurtpore and Ulwar and accompanied His Royal Highness during his hunting expedition. He then proceeded to Karauli to settle a dispute between two Rajahs. Dr Harvey, his medical attendant, was concerned with his workload and that his devotion to duty would sow the seeds of his death. Prophetic words as he died at Karauli on 20 March 1870, and is buried in a private garden at Karauli.
Sold together with a comprehensive amount of copied research together with a memory stick with respect to the raising of a Civilian Irregular force to be called Mayne's Horse after Henry Otway Mayne its Commanding Officer. From 1860 it was named Central India Horse. A remarkable document listing all the original officers and men; and also a compact disc containing Blair's diary from January to September 1863 describing life, sport (cricket) and hunting in Central India. The killing of 2 tigers and 3 bears was described as a “good day's work”. One of the more interesting episodes took place on the 10th May but written in the diary on the 16th May. It tells of a hunting trip in which Captain Edward Ridley Colborne Bradford, later Police Commissioner of Police London, was out hunting with Lieutenant Curtis together with various Matchlock men on the flanks when they cornered a tiger. Blair was with the party but on another beat. The tiger tried to get away in the direction of the Matchlock men who fired. The animal turned towards Bradford who was unable to see the animal sending his Gunman to the top of a break. The tiger crossed an open piece of land when Bradford saw his prey for the first time. Bradford fired both barrels of his gun and hit the tiger. The wounded tiger turned on Bradford who, having got hold of his second gun, planned to drop him dead. Unfortunately a twig from the branch of a tree, which he had climbed, fouled the trigger guard and was unable to fire. Bradford was attacked while climbing to a higher branch and mauled. Bradford jumped from the tree and made for some water. The tiger followed and was on him and they rolled together in the water. Bradford had the presence of mind to lay quiet while Curtis managed to climb a tree and fired a shot which killed the tiger. Bradford's arm was amputated although he continued throughout his life in India his love of pig-sticking holding the reins of his horse between his teeth. Contained within the comprehensive file of documents are twenty seven pages of a privately printed manuscript directly from the Blair family archive giving his complete life history, mentions and plaudits.
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