Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Delhi, Lucknow (Drumr. Jas. Rowbotham, 1st Eurn. Bengal Fusrs.) dark toned, very fine £300-£400

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals, the Property of a Lady.

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Tim Ash Collection, July 2012.

James Rowbotham, a soldier of the East India Company serving in the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers, was born about 1831 at Hyde, Cheshire. His occupation was a bobbin turner in a textile mill. In 1852 at the age of 20 years he enlisted at Manchester for the East India Company's military service in the Infantry, travelling aboard the ship Soubahdar which landed at Calcutta on 15 November 1852. He was posted to the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers as a Private and saw service in Burma during the Burma War of 1852-3, receiving the India General Service medal clasp Pegu - since lost. At the time of the Mutiny in 1857 he took part in the campaign at Delhi and in the storming of the Cashmere Bastion on 14th September. From the time of the final capture of Delhi the Fusiliers were engaged at Lucknow taking part in its final capture. Subsequent to the Mutiny, the East India Company's rule in India ceased and was taken over by the Crown. The European element of the Company's forces was given the choice of staying on to serve the Crown or to take a discharge. Corporal, as he now was, James Rowbotham opted for a discharge from April 1860. He returned to England and his former employment as a bobbin turner in a textile mill at Ashton under Lyne. He made application to the India Office in London for his Mutiny medal, issued as Drummer
James Rowbotham, with two clasps, for Delhi and Lucknow, and for his Prize Money, all of which he had received by 1865.

Sold with comprehensive research.