Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Army of India medal issued to the next of kin of Captain Robert McGregor, on the Personal Staff of Lord Lake, who was killed at the Battle of Delhi
Army of India 1799-1826, 3 clasps, Asseerghur, Argaum, Gawilghur (Captn. R. McGregor, Staff.) long hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, good very fine and very rare

Robert McGregor was the younger son of Captain John McGregor, 60th Foot. He served for a short spell as Lieutenant in an Invali Company in Guernsey in October 1778, and arrived in India in 1779 where he was appointed Cornet in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry on 19 August. He served in the First Mahratta War with the Bombay detachment under Colonel Thomas Goddard. He was appointed Lieutenant, 1st battalion Sepoys in 1781 and was Adjutant and Quarter Master at Midnapore, 1784-5. As Lieutenant in the 14th Battalion he took part in the Third Mysore War1791-2, being present at Seringapatam; and in the Expedition to Assam 1793-4, as acting Adjutant to the force under Captain Thomas Welsh. He transferred to the 15th Native Infantry and, as Persian Interpreter and Secretary in the field to the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Lake, took part in the Second Mahratta War. He was present at the cavalry skirmish at Coel and at the assault and capture of Allighur. Lake’s force pushed on towards Delhi and, on 11 September, 1803, successfully defeated Scindia’s forces under M. Louis Bourquien. Captain Robert McGregor was one of the six British officers killed in action at Delhi. Each of his two sons was granted a pension of £50 per annum until he attained the age of 16.
The issue of this medal to a deceased officer is not without precedent. It is a matter of record that the Admiralty allowed the N.G.S. medal for Shannon with Chesapeake to be issued to the widow of Midshipman John Samwell who died from his wounds received in the action on 1 June, 1813. Similarly, the M.G.S. medal was issued for Major W. J. Plenderleith who commanded the 81st Foot at the battle of Maida in 1806, and who died not long afterwards. That the medal above should have been issued with three clasps for actions that were fought after the battle of Delhi remains a mystery. Logically the medal should bear clasps for Allighur and Battle of Delhi. Whilst the medal is not shown on the roll compiled by R. W. Gould, it is shown on that compiled by A. J. Newnham (Privately produced), who lists the three clasps shown above and further states ‘Killed at Delhi - Gen. Lake’s Staff.’ As this medal is not thought to have appeared on the market before now, it would seem that Newnham must have had sight of the claim for this medal at either the India Office Library or the Public Record Office.