Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (Drumr. J. Martin, 59th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising, very fine £1200-1400

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

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James Martin was born in 1807 in Bangalore, India, son of Sergeant John Martin and his wife Mary, of the 59th Foot. He was enlisted into the regiment at the age of just 8 years old, on 15 May 1815, at their H.Q. at Fort William, Calcutta, due to the sudden death of both his parents, and was placed in the care of the Battalion Adjutant. He was wounded in the eyes by a shell-burst at the storming of Bhurtpoor on 26 January 1826, and discharged on 9 November 1830, aged 22 years, due to being blind in both eyes. He was subsequently granted a pension of 1s 6d per day and died on 22 December 1871, whilst drawing his pension in North Staffordshire. Sold with some research.