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

The interesting Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Assistant-Surgeon P. O’Brien, Bengal Medical Establishment, who served a total of 45 years in India, rising from Hospital Apprentice to full Surgeon; he was present in the First Burma war of 1824-25 with the Subordinate Medical Department, with whom he served for 32 years, and served a further 13 years in the Indian Medical Service. He was the oldest Assistant Surgeon in the Indian Mutiny and saved the lives of the Europeans at Lullutpore, where he was not only in medical charge of the District but was also the Joint Magistrate. Subsequently captured by the Mutineers he was imprisoned by the Rajah of Shahghur from 2 July to 12 September 1857

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Asst. Surgn. P. O’Brien, Benl. Medical. Dept.) small edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £800-£1,200

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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Peter Joseph O’Brien was born in Galway, Ireland, on 19 September 1806, and would have arrived in India as the young son of a serving H.M. Regimental N.C.O. or soldier. His first mention in the record can be found in the Delhi archives which hold the documents of the Subordinate Medical Department (S.M.D.) covering the period from 1818 until 1858. It shows that Peter O’Brien was placed to do duty with the newly arrived H.M. 38th Regiment as an Assistant Apothecary, 24 May 1822, being promoted from Apprentice, and on 25 January 1825, O’Brien was posted to do duty with the 38th Regiment at the Military Field Hospital at Rangoon during the First Burmese War. It was here that he came into direct contact with Surgeon James Ranald Martin, who was later to become the Senior Medical Officer of the East India Company. Martin took him under his wing and they became lifelong friends. For his services in Rangoon, O’Brien was awarded the Army of India medal with clasp Ava. In 1826 he returned to Calcutta on the ship Hero of Malown with returning troops and on arrival worked in the General Calcutta Hospital.

In 1831 O’Brien was appointed Assistant Dispenser in Simla. He worked in other stations, including Meerut, before returning to Calcutta where he was first, Apothecary at the General Hospital and second, Head Apothecary of the Calcutta Native Hospital. While in Calcutta O’Brien studied at the Calcutta Medical College and became a Doctor. In 1842 he was allowed to retire after 21 year service on a pension of 60 pounds per annum. Taking advice from his friend and mentor James R. Martin, he sailed for England to study at St George’s Medical School, and qualified as a Surgeon in late 1842, receiving his M.R.C.S. diploma in 1843. He returned to Calcutta on the ship Bangalore where he was the Surgeon in medical charge of the troops aboard. Appointed him to do duty with the newly formed Gwalior Contingent, as an Uncovenanted Sub-Assistant-Surgeon, in March 1844, he served for 9 years being in many minor affairs with both the infantry and cavalry units of the Contingent, before being commissioned Assistant-Surgeon on 20 November 1853.

At the outbreak of the Great Sepoy Mutiny, O’Brien, now aged 51, was serving with the 6th Regiment Gwalior Contingent at Lullutpore. On top of his military and civil medical duties he was also Acting Joint-Magistrate of the District, a unique roll for a medical officer. Writing in 1860, O’Brien requested that his 9 years spent with the Gwalior Contingent as an Uncovenanted Surgeon should be allowed to count towards his pension. Among the papers are letters that cover the events at Lullitpore, extracts from which are listed below:
‘... you thus served uninterruptedly without being one day absent from regimental duties and that you discharged the duties of Surgeon to the Brigade Staff whilst with the regiment stationed at the Head Quarters, Gwalior. That in 1856 you were exchanged from the 4th to the 6th Regiment G.C stationed at Lullutpore where the Rebellion broke out and the latter Regiment mutinied in June 1857. Through your influence with the Rajah of Baupore you enabled to effect the rescue of all the Europeans at the station but subsequently you and the rest of the party were imprisoned from the 2 July to 12 September by the Rajah of Shahghur in a Fort where you suffered many privations and your health gave way. Eventually the whole party was sent to Saugor where you did garrison duties until February 1858 … I am convinced that the preservation not only of your own life but of all the Europeans who accompanied you from Lullutpore was mainly owing to the love and respect the natives had for you and which gave you the influence you had over the Baupore Rajah and his followers during these perilous times. Colonel W. Maule Ramsey late Brigadier Commanding Gwalior Contingent … The only information I obtained was from Dr. O’Brien who had resided for some years at Lullutpore where he acted as Joint-Magistrate and consequently was well acquainted with the District and people ... Captain Sale and Dr. O’Brien had gone on a little ahead of the remainder of us as we proceeded towards the Saugor Road. At the end of the Bazaar we were surrounded and taken prisoners by a party of the Rajah's men who took us towards Mussoorah near which place we were met by Doolaree Lal with a paper guaranteeing us protection which had been procured by Doctor O’Brien’

O’Brien’s services in Ubique are given thus: ‘Arrived Saugor, 14 September 1857. Engaged with the rebels at Tendkhera, 12 January 1858. In medical charge of detachment under the command of Captain Sale 9th Native Infantry. Served with the Central India Field Force commanded by Sir Huge Rose from 18 February to 29 May 1858 with the 3rd Bombay Europeans. Present at the battle of Muddenpore and the battle of Betwa, the siege, storming and capture of Jhansi. In medical charge of the left wing at the battle of Koonch, the storm and capture of Loharee and the various actions before Calpee and the capture of that place. Disabled by sunstroke at Calpee. Thanked in the despatch of Colonel Gall H.M.’s 14th Light Dragoons, commanding at the storm of Loharee. Medal and Clasp.’

O’Brien was appointed F.R.C.S. in 1859 and was advanced to Surgeon on 15 November 1864. He retired from the service on 6 July 1866, and died at St. Helier, Jersey, on 24 March 1882.

Sold with two very comprehensive files of research.