Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel J. N. Steel, Bengal Army
Abyssinia 1867-68 (Lieutt., Bengal Army, late Land Transport Train); Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ahmed Khel (Major, 25th Ben. N.I.) small edge nick to the last, otherwise good very fine (2)

James Nisbet Steel was born in India in September 1840, and educated at Cheltenham College and in France. He was nominated as a Cadet for the Bengal Presidency, season 1858/9, and passed the examiners at the East India Military College Addiscombe on 1 November 1859. He arrived in India in March 1860 and, after doing duty with the 77th Foot, 92nd Highlanders and 23th Light Infantry, was posted to the 25th Punjab Native Infantry in September 1863. He served with the Land Transport Train in the Abyssinian Campaign, 7 February to 31 May 1868. Promoted to Captain in November 1869 and Wing Commander in December 1877, he served with his regiment in the Second Afghan War where he was present at the affair of Saifoodin, and actions of Ahmed Khel and Urzoo. He was promoted Major in January 1880; 2nd in command 25th N.I. in January 1882, and Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1886. He retired in March 1888 and died in the U.K. on 27 January 1905. Sold with full research including copies of his service history and cadet papers. See lot 273 for his miniature medals.