A Collection of Indian Mutiny Medals, the Property of a Gentleman

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Sergeant Major J. McNamara, Bengal Artillery, who served with Brigadier Showers’ Moveable Column, and received a rare promotion to Ensign for his ‘distinguished conduct in several action’, the D.C.M. being unavailable to members of the H.E.I.C.’s forces

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Serjt. Major John McNamara, 3rd Bn. Bengal Art.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Indian Mutiny Medals, the Property of a Gentleman.

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John McNamara was born in Kilkishen, County Clare, in 1820 and attested for the Honourable East India Company’s Horse Artillery at Limerick in 1839 as a gunner, for life, and sailed for India on the Hindoostan. He served during the Great Sepoy Mutiny in rank of Sergeant Major, and his entry on the medal roll, dated Meerut, 1 October 1858, is annotated: ‘With Moveable Column under Brigadier Showers in Delhi district from 2nd October - 7th November. Lucknow. Promoted Ensign.’
Stubbs’ List of Officers of the Bengal Army states: ‘J. McNamara. In India January 1839. Artillery Recruit. Sergeant Major 3rd Battalion. Ensign. Distinguished in several actions. 9th October 1858.’

During the Indian Mutiny there were eleven such promotion awards made to senior N.C.O’s of the H.E.I.C. Army. This recognition was given in the case of gallantry as they did not qualify for the award of the D.C.M. This rare award was made eight days after the medal roll had been submitted, hence the rank of Sergeant Major and not Ensign on the medal.

By a letter from the Court of Directors, dated 26 April 1856, G.O. 3 July, the Governor General in Council was authorised to confer upon European Warrant and Non Commissioned Officers who had distinguished themselves in action the rank of Ensign in the Infantry, unattached. This distinction was accompanied by a grant of 1,000 rupees in aid of the necessary outfit for a commissioned officer.

McNamara transferred to the Royal Artillery in 1862, as Ensign and Quartermaster 22nd Brigade R.A. He died at Agra Cantonments on 2 October 1864, aged 44.