Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Second Lieutenant William Stirling, second in command of the Royal Marines Light Infantry contingent of Shannon’s Naval Brigade; he was wounded at Khujwa and did good service on his return to action at Lucknow, later taking command on the death of Captain Gray

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (2nd Lieut. Wm. Sterling, R.M. Shannon.) small edge bruise, otherwise toned, extremely fine £2,000-£2,400

Confirmed on the Shannon medal rolls as ‘Sterling’ and medal is impressed as such although the correct spelling should be Stirling.

William Stirling was born on 16 June 1837, at Kingston upon Thames, son of Lieutenant Thomas Stirling R.N. and his wife Ann Maria Burch, née Hockin.
William's father, Thomas, came from the Scottish Clan Stirling's of Ardoch. He was born in Jamaica to Charles of Ardoch, who owned a plantation and pen, and his housekeeper, Rebecca Ash. The records of Jamaica indicate Rebecca was Jewish, having abbreviated her name from Ashkenazi as did many of the Ashkenazi diaspora in Jamaica. On Charles' death, Rebecca inherited the plantation, but Thomas and his two brothers were brought to England by the Ardoch family in Scotland, citing the need for a proper education and upbringing. Thomas entered the navy as a Landsman, eventually advancing to Captain. He was heir to the titles 2nd Baronet of Strowan and 6th of Ardoch, but forces contrived against him. Neither did he receive any government slave-owning compensation due to third-party counter claims, leaving him in a state of penury for the rest of his life.
William entered the Royal Marines as 2nd Lieutenant, Chatham Head Quarters on 23 April 1855; posted aboard H.M.S. Princess Royal, then to H.M.S. Perseverance on 8 January 1856; to Chatham Headquarters on 28 July 1856; and to H.M.S. Shannon on 27 September 1856.
Shannon arrived at Hong Kong in the summer of 1857 and on the news of the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny she was ordered to Calcutta with the vessels Pearl and Sanspareil. Stirling proceeded up the Ganges with the first detachment of the Naval Brigade under the command of Captain W. Peel R.N. in August 1857. Stirling commanded Shannon's Marines in the action at Khujwa on 1 November 1857, when a strong force of 4,000 mutineers was signally defeated. In this action, Lieutenant Stirling received gunshot wounds to his thigh and calf. From a strength of 103 officers, men and marines the Naval Brigade had 3 ratings mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 11 ratings wounded. Total losses to the British was 95 killed and wounded including Lieutenant-Colonel Powell of the 53rd Regiment.

Stirling rejoined the Brigade from Hospital at Cawnpore on Christmas day 1857. Lieutenant Verney R.N. notes in his book that Stirling, although not fully recovered from his injuries, was present at the battle of Kala Nuddee Bridge on 3 January 1858, and the subsequent operations at Futtehgurh. He served with the army under Lord Clyde during the siege and capture of Lucknow and frequently had command of the batteries. Assuming command of the Marine detachment upon the death of Captain Gray on 8 May 1858, he also served at Ayah from April to July 1858, when the Brigade marched down to rejoin their ship at Calcutta. (He received a gratuity of one year's pay for wounds received at Khujwa.) A telegram from H.M.S. Pylades dated Calcutta, 7 September 1858, states that Lieut. Stirling R.M. bears the highest testimony to his zeal and gallantry in the execution of his duties.

Stirling returned to Woolwich Head Quarters on 15 January 1859; to H.M.S. Edgar on 5 June 1859, as part of the Channel Fleet; to Deal Depot for recruits on 1 May 1860. Having rejoined the Channel Fleet he was appointed acting Pay & Quarter Master. In compliance with his own request he was placed on half-pay on 2 February 1864, and died at Porlock, Somerset, on 20 June 1869, of cardiac disease, aged 32 years.

On 30 March 1861 he married Jessie Sale, the daughter of Major-General William Friend Hopkins, Royal Marines, C.B., Knight of the Legion of Honour and A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, and had issue Florence, born 12 June 1861. On William's death, Jessie married Henry Oliver Lloyd and, under the name of Jessie Sale Lloyd, she commenced a literary career writing mystery novels. In this male-dominated profession she competed with the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and is today recognised as his equal with an avid following.

Sold with comprehensive research with respect to the family's slavery connections in Jamaica together with family history which includes some personal letters written by William from India, and photographs of Jessie Sale and her daughter Florence.