Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Relief of Lucknow (Alexr. Smith, 93rd Highlanders) extremely fine £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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3214 Private Alexander Smith was killed in action at the attack on the Shah Nujjeef on 16 November 1857.

A labourer from Armagh, he enlisted at Glasgow as a private in the 91st Regiment on 8 October 1851, aged 18 years. On 24 June 1854, he volunteered into the 93rd Regiment and served with the 93rd in the Crimea from July 1854 to June 1856, including the battles of the Alma and Balaklava. Returning to England for a brief period, Smith sailed for India with the 93rd in June 1857, arriving there three months later. At Lucknow on the 16th November, the 93rd were heavily engaged in the attack on the Secundra Bagh, and were again thrown into the attack by Sir Colin Campbell, who rallied the regiment, saying “I had no intention of employing you again today, but the Shah Nujjeef must be taken. The artillery cannot drive the enemy out, so you must with the bayonet.” Another man of this name served in the 93rd and is entitled to the medal with clasps for Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow.