The mounted group of four miniature dress medals attributed to Regimental Sergeant-Major P. Mullane, V.C., Royal Horse Artillery, Victoria Cross; Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Kandahar; Meritorious Service Medal, V.R.; Army L.S.& G.C., V.R., mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey.

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Collection

Ex Sotheby’s 13 October 1983 (Lot 185) and Dix Noonan Webb 2 April 2003 (Derek Robinson Collection, Lot 942).

Patrick Mullane, who was born in Ahmednuggar in the Deccan, India in 1858, won his V.C. as a Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery in the famous action at Maiwand:

‘For conspicuous bravery during the action of Maiwand, on the 27 July 1880, in endeavouring to save the life of Driver Pickwell Istead. This Non-Commissioned Officer, when the battery to which he belonged was on the point of retiring, and the enemy were within ten or fifteen yards, unhesitatingly ran back about two yards and picked up Driver Istead, placed him on the limber, where, unfortunately, he died almost immediately. Again, during the retreat, Sergeant Mullane volunteered to procure water for the wounded, and succeeded in doing so by going into one of the villages in which so many men lost their lives’ (London Gazette 17 May 1881 refers).

Mullane later attained the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major and died in Plaistow, Sussex in 1919.