The Paul Bentley Collection

Three: Captain G. H. Kennedy, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (Ensn. G. H. Kennedy, 3rd Regt. Bombay N.I.); China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Lieut. Kennedy 3rd Regt. Bombay N.I.) note lack of initials; Abyssinia 1867 (Captn. G. H. Kennedy 3rd Regt. Bombay N.I.) light contact marks and scratching to reverse of the last, otherwise very fine or better (3) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Paul Bentley Collection.

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Gerald Hume Kennedy was born in London in 1837, educated at Burry Grammar School, Suffolk, and Addiscombe House and entered the employment of The Oriental Bank Corporation, London, as a Clerk before applying for a Cadetship in the H.E.I.C. Army in 1854. He was appointed Ensign on 20 February 1855, attached to 13th Infantry from 27 March to 17 May 1855, and appointed to the 3rd Bombay Native Infantry on 2 June 1855. He served in Persia at the bombardment and capture of Mohomra and pursuit of the Persian Army (Medal with Clasp). He joined the detachment which marched from Sholapoor to Lunderpoor (40 miles) in 17 hours, the detachment thanked by command of Her Majesty the Queen.

Captain Kennedy commanded the Bhuma Kushna frontier in October and November 1858 and was almost continually employed from 5 August 1858 to 24 September 1859 in command of detachment on field service. He was commended by His Excellency the Commander in Chief for Zeal and Energy. In addition to command of a detachment, he aacted as Post Master and Superintendent of Bazars of the Field Force under Sir H. Rose, G.C.B. in the Nizam’s dominions in March and February 1859.

Kennedy served with the Horse Transport Service in the China Expeditionary Force under Lt. General Sir Hope Grant, G.C.B., and was present at the landings at Peh-Tang; the battle of Sin Ho; the bombardment and capture of the entrenched village of Tankow; the assault and capture of the Taku Forts; and he accompanied the advance of the Army on Tien Tsin and Pekin, including the battles of Chang Kia Wan and Tungchow, and occupation of Pekin (Medal with two Clasps).

He was made Lieutenant on 23 January 1960, and Captain on 20 February 1867. He served in the Abyssinian campaign of 1868 as Adjutant, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry (Medal). Captain Kennedy died at Ahmadabad, Gujerat, on 10 June 1872.

Sold with copied research including two copied portrait photographs of the recipient.