Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Lieut. G. Mitchell. 2nd Eurn. Bengal Fusrs.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle, nearly extremely fine £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Tim Ash.

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George Mitchell was born at Mortlach, Banffshire, Scotland, on 1 March 1836. He was educated at the Parish school in Mortlach and later went to Canada, where, from early 1853, he was employed as a clerk for a trading company in Quebec “holding the responsible position of Cash Keeper”. At the close of 1855 he returned to Scotland, where his Uncle had obtained for him a Nomination to a Commission in the H.E.I.C.’s Military Service. In June 1855 he was passed by the Examiners of the Military Seminary at Addiscombe and within the week he was aboard the Barham bound for Calcutta where he landed on 16 October 1856. He joined the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers as a Lieutenant on 10 November 1856, and served with that regiment throughout the Siege and Capture of Delhi in 1857. He was present at the action of Badlee-Ka-Serai, 8 June 1857, and the subsequent engagements during the Siege. He was present at the final assault on the 14th September 1857, and commanded the Advanced Piquet of the Regiment and Brigade at the Cabul Gate during the final struggle from the 14th to the 20th September (Medal and Clasp).

Due to constant exposure to the heat and hard duty during the siege, Mitchell had had frequent attacks of fever, diarrhoea, and latterly a severe attack of dysentery, and was consequently ordered, on 10 October, to leave Delhi for the cooler climate of the hills at Subathoo until the end of the hot season. He returned to his Regiment at Delhi in December 1857, but by May of 1858 his condition had worsened again with the increasing heat, so he was sent off to Simla and the cool of the hills for six months. In November 1858 he decided to return to the Regiment at Delhi but he was far from a fit man and by March 1859, was constantly stricken with fever and inflammation of the liver, in consequence of which he was again despatched to the hills. Mitchell never fully recovered from the sickness contracted at Delhi and in April 1862 the Presidency Surgeon decided that a change of climate to Europe was the only recourse to be adopted. Returning to England it was reported that Mitchell was suffering from alternate attacks of ague and diarrhoea, a liver that was diseased, and likely to remain so, and considered to be permanently disqualified for military service in a tropical climate. He was consequently allowed to retire from 12 August 1864, on Retired Pay, aged just 28 years. He died at Dufftown, Banffshire, on 13 November 1906, aged 70 years. Mitchell’s uniform jacket of the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers may be seen today at the National Army Museum in London.

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