Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Ensign D. Pringle, 42nd Highlanders) nearly extremely fine £400-£500

David Pringle was born at Berhampore on 9 December 1839, son of the late W. A. Pringle, late Bengal Civil Service, and Anne Elizabeth, of Yair, Scotland. He was nominated for the H.E.I.C. Army by John Harvey Anstell and recommended by Robert Nesbitt. He was appointed Ensign on 4 September 1857, and arrived in India on 16 October 1857.

On the outbreak of the Mutiny, the cadets of the H.E.I.C. forces, mostly boys of sixteen or seventeen, were known universally throughout India as ‘Griffins’ or ‘Little Griffs’ and were attached to various British Regiments, as most of the regiments they were to have joined had mutinied. They are not to be found in the British Army Lists of the period and are only traceable through the East India Registers.

David Pringle appears as an Ensign on the roll of Officers and others attached to H.M’s 42nd Highland Regiment: ‘Lucknow. Engaged in the late campaign in the open field. Engaged in the operations against Lucknow from 2nd - 16th March 1858.’

Service: ‘To 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch) 2nd November 1858. At Cawnpore and the capture of Lucknow, also taking of Fort Rhoyiah and Bareilly in 1858. To 58th Bengal Native Infantry 29th May 1860.’

Pringle was promoted to Lieutenant on 4 September 1858, and to Captain on 16 December 1868. He died on 1 February 1874, at Portabello, and is commemorated by a monumental inscription in Melrose Church. His twin brother, Ensign G. S. Pringle, 6th Bengal Native Infantry, was murdered at Allahabad on 6 June 1857.