Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Pipe Mr. Duncan McPhail, 92nd Highlanders) some contact marks, about very fine; extremely rare £800-1000

Only 7 x Indian Mutiny medals awarded named to Pipe-Major's in the British Army

Only one medal named to a Pipe-Major was awarded to each of the 7 x Highland regiments that served in the Indian Mutiny vis, 42, 71, 72, 78, 79, 92 and 93 Foot - the medal with no-clasp being unique to Pipe-Major McPhail of the 92nd Highlanders

Duncan McPhail was a native of Oban, Argyllshire, Scotland, having been born there on 2 July 1826, the son of Neil M'Phale [sic] and his wife Ann M'Phale, nee M'Martin. He enlisted into the 92d Highlanders at Glasgow on the 20th January 1849, aged 23 years 6 months, his trade being given as Labourer. He served with the 92nd at Clonmel and Kilkenny in Ireland and then went with them to Corfu in the Ionian Islands, where he served for two years. On 1 January 1853 he was appointed Sergeant and Drum Major. It should be noted that at this time Pipers were not recognized by the Horse Guards, and in Scottish regiments they were often listed on the books as Drummers, to enable them to receive the additional pay annexed to that appointment - Pipers being considered as far superior to mere Drummers! Whether he was also trained as a Drummer, or merely held the appointment of Drum Major to enable him to receive the additional pay of 1/10d per diem, is not known. However, on the eventual recognition of Pipers by the Horse Guards, just over a year later, McPhail was appointed the 92nd's first official Pipe Major on 1 April 1854.

After Corfu, he served at Gibraltar from April 1853 until the Regiment's posting to the Crimea in 1855, where they arrived just too late to qualify for the Crimea medal. In June 1856 they returned to Gibraltar and remained there until they were sent to India, where they arrived in March 1858, to reinforce the troops there during the suppression of the Mutiny

Whilst in India, the 92nd provided contingents to go out with the various Field Forces which were employed in mopping up operations against the rebels. McPhail accompanied the Mhow Field Force which, under the Command of Major General John Michel, went in pursuit of the rebel leader Tantia Topee, who McPhail described as ". . . a most ubiquitous character. . .". During these operations the Force was engaged in actions against the enemy at Rajghur, Mongrowlee, Sindwaho and Kurrai

In May 1859 he was admitted to hospital and in April the following year he embarked for home. He appears to have been sent, on his return, to the 2nd Invalid Depot in September, where he is shown as a Sergeant, but his time there was very short as he was discharged, Time Expired on the 26 September 1860

Military life must have greatly appealed to Duncan McPhail as he re-enlisted in the British Army, at Edinburgh, Scotland, on 4 June 1862, and served a further 5 years 211 days with 2nd Battalion 25th Foot (In 1881 became 2nd Battalion King's Own Scxottish Borderers) until taking his final discharge on 31 December 1867, at which time he held the rank of Sergeant. In total Duncan McPhail had served 17 years and 91 days in the British Army, of which 13 years and 8 months were spent overseas

At time of his final discharge in 1867, he was in possession of the Indian Mutiny Medal, and his conduct was described as having been 'Exemplary'

Sold with some copied research