Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Major Valpy Thomas, 1st Bengal Cavalry

Cabul 1842, unnamed as issued, fitted with steel clip and bar suspension and top suspension brooch inscribed in incuse letters ‘cabul’; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Lieutt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Regt. Light Cavalry) fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846 (Bt. Capt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Regt. L:C:); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Bt. Capt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Bengal Cavy.) naming lightly rubbed on the last two, generally good very fine (4) £1500-2000

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

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Ex Spink N.C. January 1970, when contained in fitted leather case together with four original commission documents.

Valpy Francis Thomas Turner was born in London on 27 March 1808, son of the Rev. John Turner, D.D., of Chiswick. He was educated at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, and was nominated for the Bengal cavalry in the cadet season of 1826. Turner arrived in India in Pctober 1827, and early the following year was doing duty with the 6th Light Cavalry with the rank of Cornet. In November of that year he was transferred to the 1st Light Cavalry, with which he served for the remainder of his military career. Promoted to Captain in June 1842, he served in Afghanistan later that year, at the re-occupation of Cabul with Pollock’s Force, and later in the Gwalior campaign, at the battle of Maharajpoor. He served during the first and second Sikh war, being present at Aliwal, Chilianwala and Goojerat. He retired form the service in February 1853 and was promoted Honorary Mahor shortly afterwards. Major Turner died at his residence in Brighton on 14 October 1898, aged 90.

The recipient’s name is Valpy Francis Thomas Turner. The group is sold with four original commissions (3 on parchment) dated 1838, 1839, 1842 and 1855