Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Sub-Conductor W. H. West, Siege Train, late Bombay Horse Artillery, who was killed in action at the Siege of Kotah on 26 March 1858

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Sub. Conductor, W. H. West,) nearly extremely fine £600-£800

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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William H. West served during the Great Sepoy Mutiny as part of the Siege Train that on 15 January 1858 joined the 2nd Brigade of the Central India Field Force under the command of General Sir High Rose, K.C.B. As West had served in the Bombay Horse Artillery (reaching the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant) prior to joining the Siege Train it is probable that he was a long service soldier and was now too old to be with the Artillery. His last postings with the Bombay Horse Artillery were at Poona from 1851-54, and Deesa from 1855-56, and it is possible that he had previous medallic entitlement.

A force of 600 men and two guns under Lieutenant Frederick Roberts marched from Nasirabad to Kotah on the Chambal, where troops of Rajah Ram Singh of Kotah had mutinied and besieged him in Kotah’s citadel. After sending some troops to reinforce the Rajah, Roberts bombarded the town and took it by assault on 30 March, capturing 50 guns.

West was killed in action by a round-shot during the opening stages of the siege of Kotah on 26 March 1858. An extract from the Bombay Gazette states:
‘This morning. the rebels made a desperate attack and attempt at escalade on the portion of the town occupied by the Rajah but were signally driven off by H.H.’s troops. The rebels are, it is said, from 8,000 to 10,000 strong, 3,000 of that number being mutineers. and headed by one Heera Sing, a Risaldar of some notoriety, who was present at Delhi, Agra, and many other places. He has blocked up all the gates so as to prevent any of his men quitting and has intimated his intention to fight to the last man. The attack this morning was commenced at early dawn by a heavy cannonade on our left battery., it is supposed, in order to draw off the attention of the Rajah's troops from the real attack. which was commenced about half an hour after, and in consequence a wing of H.M.’s 83rd Regiment is ordered into the town to occupy the palace and to defend the portion now in his possession from similar attacks.
Our casualties have not been many - one lascar killed and one wounded by the same shot. Mr. West, Sub-Conductor, Siege Train, was killed this morning by a round-shot, which completely took off the back part of his head. The enemy fires four guns to our one, having apparently brought round to the water side of the town many from other parts, but we hope soon to show them what English cold steel is like.’

Sold with copied research.