Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (J. Beddy.) minor edge bruising, very fine £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Indian Mutiny Medals, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Joseph Fawcett Beddy, an Uncovenanted Civil Servant, was born in India on 23 January 1828, the son of a dissenting Minister, and was appointed to the Bengal Uncovenanted Civil Service in 1854. At the time of the Great Sepoy Mutiny he was a Deputy Collector and Deputy Magistrate in the Central Provinces. He is recorded in the Mutiny narrative of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories and is noted in the list of Europeans who rendered good service to the Government during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58.

The Saugor and Nerbudda territories formed an extensive tract bounded in the North by the British districts of Banda, Allahabad and Mirzapore and in the South by Nagpur and the dominions of the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1857 the Saugor and Nerbudda territories formed a part of the North West Frontier Provinces administered by the Governor of the North West Frontier Provinces, Mr John Russell Colvin at Agra.

Beddy was at the small station of Narsingpur on the Singri river, sixty miles to the West of Saugor. At the outbreak of the Mutiny it was garrisoned by four companies of the 28th Madras Native Infantry under the command of Captain Woolley. The Deputy Commissioner of the District was Captain Ternan. Beddy had been appointed Deputy Collector and Deputy Magistrate in April 1855. He remained at Narsingpur until his transfer in 1859 in the same post at Hoshangabad.

On 24 November 1857 Beddy assisted Lieutenant Walton of the 28th Madras Native Infantry in repulsing a strong body of rebels at Somkul, as the following report by Major W. C. Erskine, Commission of Jubbulpore, confirms:
‘On 17 November 1857 the rebel leader Mirbhan Singh crossed to the South side of the Nerbudda and burned the village and Thannah of Saukul in the Nursingpore district but re crossed that same evening. The police behaved badly, deserting their posts when there was no necessity. A detachment of the 28th Madras Native Infantry under Lieutenant Walton was sent out accompanied by Mr. J. Beddy Deputy Collector; but instead of the rebels taking to their heels this time; they being strong; required a few volleys, when they fled with considerable loss. The affair was well managed by Lieutenant Walton who was well supported by Mr. Beddy and confidence was restored to this part of the District.’

Beddy died on 20 August 1879, whilst serving as Assistant Commissioner at Sironcha, Central Provinces.

Sold with copied research.