Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Major-General R. N. Tinley, 39th Regiment of Foot, later Cape Mounted Riflemen, who was severely wounded at the battle of Mahrajpoor on 29 December 1843, and led his Regiment’s attack on the Grand Redan during the Crimea War

Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Captn. Robert N. Tinley H.M. 39th. Regt.) original hook adapted and now suspended from a straight bar suspension, with contemporary silver riband buckle; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. Colonel R. N. Tinley. 39th. Regt.) depot impressed naming; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel, with poincon mark to base of tassel; Ottoman Empire, Fifth Class breast badge, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel, unmarked, of ‘bazaar’ manufacture; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, fitted with an IGS-style suspension, mounted for wear, significant enamel damage to the tips of points of LdeH, otherwise generally very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

Robert Newport Tinley was born in 1811 and was commissioned Ensign in the 39th Regiment of Foot on 4 April 1832. He was promoted Lieutenant on 19 July 1833, and Captain on 15 December 1840. He served with the Regiment during the Gwalior campaign, and was severely wounded at the battle of Maharajpoor on 29 December 1843.

Promoted Major on 11 November 1851, Tinley saw further service during the Crimean War, going out to the Crimea with a draft of the 39th Regiment aboard H.M.S. Princess Royal, sailing from Queenstown on 13 January 1855, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 9 March 1855. He led his regiment's attack on the Redan on 18 June 1855, and commanded the Trench Guard, left attack, where a strong sortie of 2,000 Russians was made against the chevaux de frise, Woronzoff Road, on the night of 2 August, and which was successfully repulsed; he was also present at the attack on the Redan on 8 September, and Commanded and brought out the 39th Regiment of Foot at the end of the war. For his services he was awarded the Fifth Classes of both the French Legion of Honour and the Ottoman Order of the Medjidieh.

Promoted Colonel on 28 May 1858, Tinley went on to serve with distinction with the Cape Mounted Rifles before going on half pay on 1 May 1866. Promoted Major-General on 6 March 1868, he died at St. Helier, Jersey on 10 July 1877.

A fine watercolour of Tinley in the uniform of the Cape Mounted Rifles, by Richard Simkin, is held in the collection of the National Army Museum. (Accession No. NAM.2014-02-43-1).

Sold with the eight Commission Documents covering most of the recipient’s promotions from Ensign to Major-General.

For the Maharajpoor Star named to the recipient’s brother, see Lot 359.