Awards to Civilians from the Collection of John Tamplin

An Indian Mutiny medal to Mr George Debnan, an indigo planter who witnessed some interesting events during the mutiny

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Geo. Debnan) good very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to Civilians from the Collection of John Tamplin.

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Collection

Ex Needes Collection 1940.

George Debnan was an indigo planter in India and served in a civilian capacity during the Mutiny of 1857-58. He is recorded as being a resident at Manjeeparah, and that on the occasion of the mutiny of two Companies of the 73rd Native Infantry at Dacca on 22 November 1857, he marched with others to Serajgunge with the view of intercepting the rebels on their way to Rungpore, but they did not fall in with them.

It is also recorded that he was present at Shahjehaupore from the 3rd till the 11th May 1858, when that station was attacked by the rebels in considerable force, amounting to 8,000 men and 12 guns. The rebels were under the Fyzabad Moulvie Ahmeed Ali Shah, and the British were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel E. B. Hale. The latter, warned by his spies, vacated the town and took up a position in the jail and in an entrenchment made beside it. Here the British remained in a state of siege and defended themselves for nine days until relieved by a force commanded by Brigadier J. Jones.