Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Captain, later Major-General, L. Russell, Bengal Engineers, who served under General Havelock during the first Relief and second Defence of Lucknow, and was wounded on the day the Residency was finally relieved by Sir Colin Campbell; for his services he was twice Mentioned in Despatches and achieved fame as one of the personalities of the Defence of Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (2nd. Capt. L, Russell, Exec. Engr.) extremely fine £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Indian Mutiny Medals, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Provenance: George McIlroy Collection.

Lindsay Russell entered the Bengal Engineers in December 1847 and served as Brigade Major of Engineers during the Great Sepoy Mutiny. He is listed on the Roll of Officers and Staff of the Shahjehanpore Brigade as having been present at ‘all the actions leading to the reoccupation of Cawnpore and in the advance to Lucknow with General Havelock. Present at the Defence of Lucknow. Disabled by wound.’

The Siege of Lucknow, by Rutz Rees, gives the following account:
‘The Chief Engineer, Crommelin, meanwhile superintended the defensive works of the new palaces. With the miners placed at his disposal, he soon foiled most of the enemy’s mining operations, and sank shafts and began galleries in every direction. In carrying out these labours he owed much to the energy and courage of Lieutenant RusseII, his Major of Brigade.
The enemy however could not be driven out of a portion of the palaces, which they had maintained possession of, after having exploded a mine. Colonel Napier, accompanied by Colonel Purnell and Moorsome, however reconnoitred the enemy’s position one dark night with perfect success, and Lieutenant Russell of the Engineers, was then directed to attempt to blow up the Mosque which the enemy had maintained. He was perfectly successful; a great number of the insurgents were blown into the air and we maintained a capital point from which to command the Khaz Bazaar.’

Wounded in action, Kaye and Malleson, in their History of the Indian Mutiny, state:
‘An open space, nearly half a mile in width, still intervened between the assailants and the advanced positions of Outram and Havelock. This space was exposed to a heavy musketry fire from the Kaisarbagh and could not be crossed without imminent risk. But the risk did not prevent the two gallant generals and their staff from crossing the space to meet the Commander-in-Chief. They started eight officers and one civilian. They were Outram, Havelock, Napier (now Lord Napier of Magdala), Vincent Eyre, young Havelock (now Sir Henry Havelock), Dodgson, the deputy Adjutant General, the aide-de-camp Sitwell, the engineer Russell, and the gallant Kavanagh. They had not gone many paces before they were seen by the enemy, and the musketry fire from the Kaiserbagh redoubled. Napier was struck down, young Havelock was struck down, Sitwell and Russell were struck down. Outram, Havelock, Eyre, Dodgson and Kavanagh alone reached the Moti Mahal uninjured. Then to borrow the appropriate language of Sir Colin Campbell, “The Relief of the Lucknow Garrison has been accomplished”.’

For his gallantry, Russell was twice Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Henry Havelock, firstly for his actions at the Battle of Futtehpore: ‘My orders were conveyed in the field boldly, actively and intelligently by my aide-de camp, Lieutenant Havelock, 10th Foot, and the following officers: Lieutenant Moreland, 1st Fusiliers; Lieutenant Moorsome, H.M.’s 52nd Light Infantry; Captain Sheehy, H.M.’s 81st Regiment; Captain Russell, Engineers; and Captain McBean’; and secondly for his gallantry during the Relief of Lucknow, in the last despatch written by Havelock prior to his death: ‘I must commend all the officers in charge of detachments, but most prominently Colonel Purnell, 90th Light Infantry, whose conduct throughout the affair evinced the most distinguished gallantry, united to imperturbable coolness and the soundest of judgement; as well as Lieutenants Russell, Hutchinson and Limond of the Engineers, and Captain Oakes (attached), who showed the way to several points of attack.’

Russell became, in time, one of the personalities of the second Defence of Lucknow, and wounded on the day that the Residency was finally relieved by Sir Colin Campbell he features in the famous painting The Relief of Lucknow by Thomas Barker. Advanced Colonel in March 1878, he retired on 11 May 1881, and was granted the honorary rank of Major-General. He died at his home in Folkestone, Kent, on 9 May 1904, aged 74.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient, and copied research.