Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The Indian Mutiny medal to Gunner Michael O’Connors, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Gunr. Michl. O’Connor, 1st Bde. Bengal H. Art.) edge bruise, otherwise better than very fine
£150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Michael O’Connors [he only appears on the medal roll without an ‘s’] was a native of Milltown, Co. Clare, who enlisted at Liverpool on 16th/17th January 1857, for 12 years service in the East India Company’s Artillery. He was then described as 23 years 8 months, 5ft 9in tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He joined the E.I.C. recruit depot at Warley Barracks, Brentwood, Essex, on 24 January 1857, and was there allocated to the Bengal Army. He embarked for India on the Areta on 18 June 1857, arrived at Calcutta on 28 October, and was there posted as 9203 Gunner to the 3rd Troop 1st Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery. He volunteered to the Royal Artillery in 1861, as a Corporal. He does not appear to be entitled to the clasp for Delhi, but the medal roll does confirm ‘Present at the Alum Bagh with the force under Genl. Outram from 4 Jany. 1858, until the final capture of Lucknow.’ His Royal Artillery discharge papers confirm’Indian Mutiny Medal with 2 clasps for Lucknow’, and also show additional ‘2 years service per G.O.G.G. 12 Oct. 59’ for the ‘defence’ of Lucknow. Although O’Connors was for a time a Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery, he was tried and reduced to Gunner in September 1867, and finally discharged as a Bombardier on 15 June 1876.

Refs: WO 97/1822; IOL L/MIL/9/34; L/MIL 10/80; L/MIL/10/127.