Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Trooper Fras. Platts, Bengal Yeo. Cavy.) good very fine £500-£600

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

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Francis Pitts served in No. 4 Troop and was discharged on 30 June 1858.

The Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry was formed at Calcutta by an order published in the Calcutta Gazette in July 1857. It took to the field later in 1857 with 258 officers and men and largely served in the column under Brigadier Francis Rowcroft, operating in the upper provinces of Bengal and Oudh. It was often the only cavalry force present with the column, such was the shortage and dispersal of mounted units. Nicknamed ‘The Devil’s Regiment’ by the enemy, the B.Y.C. shared with many other regiments during this long and severe campaign the continuous round of movements, trial by climate, disease and terrain and fairly constant actions. They were particularly distinguished at Amorah in Gorakhpur district on 5 March 1858, and at Thamowlee on 17 April 1858, where, according to Rowcroft’s account ‘the right squadron... made a noble charge and though they came upon a large body of the enemy behind a village and the sepoys made a desperate resistance, nothing stopped the brave cavalry and they cut down and killed great numbers... the enemy were completely dispersed.’

Sold with further research including a complete copy of the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry medal roll.