The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord

The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Major William V. Munnings, 24th Foot, who was in charge of invalids on board the ship Eastern Monarch when she exploded and burnt off Spithead on 3 June 1859

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieut. & Adjt. W. V. Munnings 1st Bn. H.Ms. 24th Regt.) marks on Queen’s cheek, otherwise good very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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William Vesey Munnings was born in the Bahamas on 24 February 1830, and purchased a commission as Ensign in the 67th Foot on 10 March 1848. He served in Gibraltar with the 67th from March 1848 to April 1849. He was promoted as Lieutenant to the 24th Foot on 1 February 1850, and named Adjutant of his Battalion on 1 October of the same year. He was promoted to Captain on 17 April 1858, and retired as Major on 8 June 1870 by the sale of his commission.

Munnings served as Adjutant of the 24th Regiment in the Punjab during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and was present at Jhelum on 7 July 1857, when the 1/24th lost heavily in an action with the 14th Bengal Native Infantry who had mutinied. He was on board the ship Eastern Monarch as an officer doing duty with the invalids aboard when she exploded and burnt off Spithead on 3 June 1859. Munnings was mentioned in Lieutenant-Colonel Allan’s (O.C. Troops) despatch and also received a letter from Captain Morris (ship’s captain) bearing testimony to his coolness and judgement on this trying occasion. Sold with copied research including detailed reports of the burning of the Eastern Monarch.