Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut, W. Hume, 38th. Regt.) good very fine £400-£500

Walter Hume was born in 1837, the youngest of five sons of the Reverend Robert Hume of Dublin, ands was commissioned Ensign by purchase in the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot on 23 June 1854, before transferring to the 38th (South Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot that same year. He served with the Regiment in the Crimea alongside three of his brothers (Gustavus Hume, Captain, 38th Regiment of Foot, who served as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir John Campbell, and would later reach the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was knighted by Queen Victoria; Robert Hume, Captain, 55th Regiment of Foot, who was severely wounded at the Battle of Inkermann, and would later reach the rank of Lieutenant-General, command the 55th Regiment of Foot, and be created G.C.B.; and John Hume, Lieutenant, 55th Regiment of Foot, who was severely wounded in the attack on the Redan on 8 September 1855, and would later reach the rank of Major-General and succeed his brother in command of the 55th Regiment of Foot); Queen Victoria once referred to them as ‘The Four Valiant Brothers’.

Prior to the final assault on Sebastopol, John Hume included the following account of the four brothers in his memoir: ‘About this time we heard that my youngest brother, Walter, had been gazetted to the 75th Regiment, he was transferred to the 38th Regiment, and came out to the Crimea at the end of June, when four brothers Hume were together before Sebastopol. Walter arrived in camp at the beginning of July, riding a very small pony which he bought in Asia Minor near Troy. He called it “Trojan”. It was the smallest pony in the camp, but was wonderfully strong and useful. We were now four brothers at the siege, two in the 38th and two in the 55th Regiments. Walter had a narrow escape the first time he went on trenches: a large piece of shell struck the hilt of his sword, denting it considerably.’

Promoted Lieutenant on 9 March 1855, Walter Hume subsequently proceed to India for service during the Great Sepooy Mutiny, and was present at the capture of Meangunge, during the siege and capture of Lucknow, and the engagements of Barree and Nuggar with Major-General Sir James Hope Grant's Division. Subsequently promoted Captain on 16 January 1863, he retired by sale of his commission in 1867. He died at home in Lynton, Devon, on 25 June 1907, aged 70.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient, taken from the recipient’s brother’s book ‘Reminiscences of the Crimean Campaign with the 55th’, by Major-General John Hume; and copied research.