Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Captain G. A. Durnford, 39th Regiment, late 4th West India Regiment and 69th Foot

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (G. Durnford, Lieut. 4th W.I. Regt. Attd. to 69th Foot); Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Pay Master George A. Durnford, H.M. 39th Regt.) fitted with adapted silver bar suspension, nearly extremely fine and a rare combination (2)
£2000-2500

The combination of M.G.S. with Maharajpoor Star occurs just twice as a pair, once as a group of three and once as a group of seven.

George Augustus Durnford was born in London on 4 September 1791, and entered the Army at the age of 14 as an Ensign in the Cape Regiment, in June 1806. In March 1810 he gained a Lieutenancy in the 4th Ceylon Regiment and participated in the capture of the Isle of France (Mauritius) on 3 December 1810, under the command of General Abercromby. Keen for further action, Durnford volunteered his services for the capture of Java, was attached to the 69th Foot, and sailed with the invasion fleet under General Auchmuty on 11 June 1811. The British occupied Batavia and, greatly reduced by sickness, began their assault on Fort Cornelis on 26 August. The 69th Foot under Colonel McLeod greatly distinguished themselves, carrying the last redoubts at the point of the bayonet, losing 11 officers and 76 men.

In January and February of 1815, Durnford participated in the Kandian war and subsequent capture of Kandy. Later that year he exchanged into the 19th Foot, who were also serving in Ceylon, where he remained engaged in the continuing skirmishes of the Kandian war of 1817-18. He returned to England in 1820, and in 1826 was promoted to Captain but, there being no vacancies, Durnford became Paymaster of the 39th Regiment and served with that regiment in New South Wales, Australia, from April 1827 until the end of 1829. The regiment returned to India in 1831, and in 1834 was engaged in the Coorg rebellion. Durnford remained with the regiment in India until it was next engaged in the Gwalior campaign at the end of 1843, taking an active part in the action at Maharajpoor on 29 December. The regiment returned to England in 1847 and Durnford remained as their Paymaster until November 1852, when he was placed on Half Pay, having by this time served actively for 46 years. He died in 1861 at the age of 70.

Sold with copy Statement of Services and other research.