Three: Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Thompson, 1st (Royal) Regiment and 70th Regiments, who rose from the ranks in a remarkable career spanning over 55 years

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Ensign M. Thompson, 1st Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming but rank privately engraved; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Pay Mr. Michl. Thompson, 70th Regt.); New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1865 (Pay Mr. Michl. Thompson, 70th Regt.) all fitted with silver riband buckles, light contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise better than very fine and a very rare group (3) £2,000-£2,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Michael Thompson was born at Newry, Ireland, on 26 November 1803 and enlisted into the 1st Foot (Royals) on 20 December 1815, aged 12 years. He served with the 2/1st Royals in India and in the Deccan under Sir John Doveton through the Mahratta campaign of 1817-19. He was present with the regiment during the Nagpore operations in 1817 but was recorded as ‘sick’ and in hospital so did not take part in the battle or receive the clasp. He served with the 2/1st in the Burma campaign of 1825-26 (Medal with clasp). He was promoted to Corporal in April 1826, to Sergeant in August 1828, and to Quartermaster Sergeant in May 1835. He served in Canada and Nova Scotia from July 1836 to November 1844, where he saw his final active service with the Royals during the Canadian rebellion of 1837-38. On 4 November 1844, he was on the shipwreck of the transport Premier at Cape Chat in the Gulf of St Lawrence whilst en route for the West Indies.

Thompson was appointed Quartermaster in the 1st Royals in October 1845, transferred in the same rank to the 70th Regiment in March 1850, and was appointed Paymaster of the 70th in November 1854. He served with the 70th in India during the mutiny, where the regiment largely served in the Punjab and frontier regions, employed in disarming local regiments in Peshawar. They were based in Ferozepore by 1858 and at Rawalpindi by 1859 (Medal). He served as Paymaster of the 70th in New Zealand during the Waikato and Taranaki campaigns of 1863-65 (Medal). He was appointed Hon. Captain in January 1860, Hon. Major in November 1864, and retired to Half Pay as Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel on 25 August 1871. His total service amounted to 55 years 224 days. Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Thompson died in Slough in 1871 and is buried there.

Sold with copied research including Statement of Service and medal roll entries.