Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Piper A. Gibson, 42nd Royal Highlanders

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Piper A. Gibson, 42nd. Rl. Highlanders); Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (4042, Piper, A. Gibson, 42nd. Highds. 1873-4) suspension claw and post tightened on first, heavy contact marks, nearly very fine, scarce (2) £1,400-£1,800

Referenced in Pipers of the Highland Regiments, 1854-1902.

Angus Gibson was born in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, on 28 December 1840, and attested for the 42nd Royal Highlanders at Stirling on 4 September 1855, aged 14. He was appointed a Piper in the Regiment, in 1858 and served in India during the suppression of the Great Sepoy Mutiny, including the final operations against Lucknow in March 1858. He was also on paraded on New Year’s Day, 1861, when Sir High Rose, Commander-in-Chief, presented new Colours to the Regiment at Bareilly.

Gibson was promoted Corporal on 23 August 1864, and Sergeant on 1 October 1865, but was reduced to Private following a Court Martial on 24 September 1866. Promoted Corporal once again on 19 January 1867, he was tried for a second time and was reduced once more to Private on 9 November 1870. He was re-appointed Piper on 22 October 1873, and accompanied the expedition to the West Coast of Africa 1873-74, taking part in the Ashanti Campaign and the capture of Cooomassie. He was discharged to pension on 4 February 1879, after 21 years and 15 days’ service. He subsequently enrolled in the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, following the first Edinburgh Volunteer Review. He remained with them for some 14 years as a Pipe-Corporal and had success in piping competitions at local Highland gatherings.

Gibson was the last surviving Indian Mutiny Piper-Veteran of the Black Watch, and at the 1907 London gathering of Mutiny veterans he had the honour of marching into the hall in full Highland dress playing ‘The Campbell’s are Coming’. Following the 1907 gathering, Field Marshal Lord Roberts sent him a signed portrait photograph, and reputedly asked for a photograph of Piper Gibson in return. He died in Aberdeen on 22 January 1921.

Sold with copied discharge papers; copied research; and two photographic images of the recipient.