Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major A. J. C. Birch, Indian Army, late 24th Foot

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieutt., 1st Bn. 24th Foot), officially engraved in running script; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Major, Transt. Officer), the first with slack suspension post and tightened claw, contact marks and edge nicks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £500-600

Alexander John Colvin Birch was born in October 1834, the son of a Lieutenant in the Bengal Army. Appointed an Ensign in the 24th Foot in March 1855, and advanced to Lieutenant in November 1856, he served in the Indian Mutiny and was awarded his Medal in March 1868 - as per Governor-General’s Order 771 of that date, in which the award was extended to all those who had borne arms against the mutineers. Exchanging to the 79th Foot in September 1860, and to the 101st Foot in October 1864, he next joined the Bengal Staff Corps in the rank of Captain and was initially employed as a Squadron Officer in the 15th Bengal Cavalry. Birch subsequently served as a Brigade Major in Bengal 1869-75, in which latter year he was promoted to Major, and in the Second Afghan War, when he was employed as a Transport Officer in the Peshawur Valley Field Force. Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel March 1881 and to full Colonel in March 1885, he died at St. Helier, Jersey in April 1907.

Also see Lot 760 for further family Honours and Awards.