Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major-General J. D. Mein, Madras Horse Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Capt. John D. Mein. 4th. Battn. Arty.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Capt. & Bt. Major John D. Mein. A. Tp. H. Bde. Madras Arty.), mounted for display with an Artillery pouch badge and a miniature photograph of the recipient wearing his medals in a glazed display frame, light contact marks, generally very fine (2) £1,400-£1,800

John Desbrisay Mein was born in Carlisle on 7 September 1813. He was appointed Cornet in the Madras Horse Artillery on 11 December 1829; then made Lieutenant on 15 October 1838; Captain on 4 June 1852; Brevet Major on 28 November 1854; Lieutenant-Colonel (in Regt.) on 18 February 1861; Lieutenant-Colonel (Army) on 20 July 1858; Colonel (Regt.) on 5 June 1865; Colonel (Army) on 8 July 1864; and Major-General on 1 August 1872.

Major-General Mein served in the Burmese War in 1852-53 in command of a field battery, and was present at the capture of Prome and occupation of Meeaday (Medal with clasp for Pegu). He also served in the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857-58 in command of a troop of horse artillery with the Saugor Field Force, including the attacks on Serghum and Kubrai; the battle of Banda; the attack on Thompore; the relief of Kirwee; and the attack on the heights of Punwarree and Duddoor in command of the right column advancing up the Duddoor Ghat (mentioned in despatches of General Whitlock, medal with clasp for Central India, and brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel). Mein commanded “D” Brigade Royal Horse Artillery from November 1865 to August 1870.

Sold with the following archive:
i) The recipient’s Royal Horse Artillery dress uniform in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, c.1860, being the uniform worn by the recipient in the photograph, some fragility and damage to the interior lining but otherwise in good condition.
ii) Original statement of service, dated 1871, with much detail as to his career.
iii) Various original photographs, together with some copied photographic images; and original newspaper cuttings regarding his death.
iv) A copy of the book On Service in India: The Mein Family Photographs 1870-1901, edited by Peter Duckers.