Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Colonel O. M. Graham, Assistant Commissary General, Bengal Staff Corps

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Lieut. O. M. Graham, Offg. Sub-Asst. Comy. Genl.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Captn. O. M. Graham Dy. Asst. Cy. Genl.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (2) £900-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Otway Mayne Graham was born on 16 May 1835, the fifth son of Captain (later Colonel, C.B.) Charles Graham, Bengal Artillery. Like his elder brothers, he too was educated at Cheltenham College, and was recommended by his father for a Cadetship in the H.E.I.C. forces. He joined the 7th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry on 15 June 1855, and continued with it until it mutinied in July 1857. He was then appointed to the Commissariat Department (officiating) in November 1857, permanently in September 1861, and continued with it until his retirement as Colonel in March 1882.

He served throughout the Mutiny of 1857-59, was present in Commissariat charge of the force under Colonel Tombs in the action against the Fort of Seonda, Bundlecund. Served at the occupation of the Alum Bagh previous to and after the 2nd Relief of Lucknow under Lord Clyde, and at the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857. He served in the Rohilcund campaign under Lord Clyde in April and May 1858. Served with the column under General Troup in Oude from October 1858 to March 1859, and with General Horsford’s Force in Oude in April and May 1859; and again with the Column under General Holdich on the Nepaul Frontier in November and December 1859 (Medal with two clasps).

He served as Deputy Assistant Commissary General with the Force under General Wilde in the campaign of October 1868 against the Bazoti Black Mountain tribes (Medal with clasp). This three-week campaign was the last of the sixteen punitive expeditions carried out in the region over a twenty-year period that qualified for the ‘North West Frontier’ clasp. Graham was mentioned in General Vaughan’s despatches (G.G.O. No. 1046 of 1868).

For the medals awarded to two of his brothers see Lots 854 and 872.