Single Campaign Medals 438


Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Capt. S. Chalmers, Sub-Asst. Comy. Genl.) good very fine


£500-£600 Provenance: Elson Collection, Glendinings 1963.


Sidney Chalmers was born at Cawnpore on 4 August 1833. Educated at Rev. Robert Morris, Edinburgh, he was nominated for the H.E.I.C. Army by Campbell Bart and recommended by Mrs Simpson. He sailed to India on the Ripon on 20 December 1850.


Ensign 53rd Native Infantry, 9 December 1852; Lieutenant, 22 April 1855; Captain, 23 October 1857; Major, 21 October 1864; Lieutenant-Colonel, 19 October 1868; Colonel, 10 October 1873; Major-General, 23 April 1884; Lieutenant-General, 23 March 1887.


Most officers of the 53rd Native Infantry were murdered by mutineers at Cawnpore on or about 27 June 1857. Only three survived, Captain Mowbray Thompson who managed to swim away from the boats during the massacre, Ensign Delafosse, Privates Murphy and Sullivan, and Lieutenant Sidney Chalmers who was absent from the regiment on commissary duties at Agra.


Chalmers joined the 53rd Bengal Native Infantry on 22 April 1853 as Interpreter and Quartermaster. In the Sonthal Insurrection of 1855, he did service as Sub- Assistant and Deputy Assistant Commissary General at Umballah, Agra and Meerut. He was senior Assistant Commissary Officer in the Jaunpore Field Force under Major-General Franks, and served as Commissary Officer in charge of the 4th Division of the Army at the capture of Lucknow. Mentioned in the Calcutta Gazette of 28 April 1858.


‘The authorities, after Delhi had remained several months peacefully in their hands, resolved on the formation of a camel corps, under a peculiar system of organisation. It was completed by the end of March, by a native named Lalla Jotee Pershaud, under the superintendence of Captain Chalmers, Assistant Commissary-General. The camels, 400 in number were selected with great care, in the Bikaneer district. The drivers were each armed with a sword and fusil; and each camel fitted to carry a European soldier if necessary.’ (The Revolt in India 1858, refers).


Chalmers was severely wounded at Lucknow on 16 March 1858, in circumstances described in the Homeward Mail from India, China and the East of 4 May 1858: ‘We very truly regret to learn that Lieut. Sidney Chalmers, Assistant Commissary General, with Brigadiers Franks’ force, has met with a very serious accident whilst on duty. He was challenged by a European sentry, but replied in Hindustani, the sentry fired his musket through the lungs of the unfortunate officer. There are hopes of his recovery.’


Lieutenant-General Chalmers died at Faygate, Sussex, on 10 August 1892.


439


The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Colonel J. L. Barrow, C.B., Madras Artillery, who was mentioned for his gallantry in the First China War and in Central India; his younger brother Lousada was the noted commander of Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry


Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Bt. Major J L Barrow. Ordce Dept. Saugor F Divn.) nearly extremely fine


£600-£800


Joseph Lyon Barrow was born at Balham, London, on 11 February 1812, son of Simon Barrow of Bath. He was the elder brother of Captain Lousada Barrow of Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry. At Addiscombe 1827-29, and a cadet in the Madras Artillery, he arrived in India on 25 January 1830, and was gazetted 1st Lieutenant on 1 September 1830; Lieutenant, 10 September 1848; Captain, 15 May 1851; Brevet Major, 28 November 1854; Lieutenant-Colonel, 18 February 1861; Colonel, 24 March 1865; Major-General, 1 August 1872.


He was employed with General Wilson’s force against Kurnaol in 1839; served with the China expedition from April 1840 to December 1843; and was at the attack on the heights of Canton, capture of Amoy, Chapoo, second capture of Chusan, Ningpo, heights of Segoan, Woosung, Shanghai, Chinkeangfoo, Nankin, and the whole of the operations in the Yangtse-Kiang River. ‘No one better deserved his medal for China than Colonel (then Lieutenant) Barrow. It was at Chusan, we believe, that he distinguished himself, under the very eye of Lord Gough, by killing a powerful Mandarin in single combat’ (extract from his obituary in Broad Arrow refers).


He served in Central India in command of the Ordnance Department, Saugor Field Division. Mentioned in despatch of Brigadier-General H. Miller to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Saugor F.D., Camp Banda, 20 April 1858: ‘It is not very often I believe, that opportunities offer to artillerymen of distinguishing themselves in any line other than their own, but some such, having presented themselves yesterday, were eagerly laid hold of by officers and men... Major Barrow and Lieutenant Hennegan, gallantly supported by Lieutenant Blunt, of Her Majesty’s 12th Royal Lancers, with a few of his men captured another gun’.


Colonel Barrow was awarded the C.B. on 2 June 1869, and retired with the honorary rank of Major-General on 1 August 1872. He died at Hamilton House, Southampton, on 29 October 1890, aged 83.


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