A rare ‘Hunza 1891’ I.O.M. pair awarded to Sepoy Manbir Thapa, 2nd Kashmir Infantry, for the capture of Fort Nilt

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 1st type, 3rd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, the reverse with a screw-nut fitting and engraved in three lines, ‘3rd / Class / Order of Merit’,complete with silver buckle on ribbon, enamel damage, nearly very fine; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hunza 1891 (420 Sepoy, 2nd Kashmir Infy.) very fine (2) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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Collection

Ex Payne Collection.

Three Victoria Crosses were earned for the capture of Fort Nilt on 20 December 1891: Captain F. J. Aylmer for blowing open the gate into the Fort; Lieutenant G. H. Boisragon for assaulting and capturing the Fort and Lieutenant Jack Manners Smith for climbing the cliffs behind the Fort and, in a nocturnal attack, driving the enemy from their entrenched sangars.

It was a most hazardous expedition and Sepoy Manbir Thapa was one of the fifty soldiers from the 2nd Kashmir Infantry (The Royal Body Guard) who made the climb with Jack Manners Smith and then assaulted the sangars. He was one of nine men from the 2nd Kashmir Infantry to be awarded the Indian Order of Merit 3rd Class.

Sold with an original letter from the famous medal collector Dr A. A. Payne of Sheffield, dated 28 November 1913:

‘Dear Sir, I began breaking up my collection last May, but though I have disposed of some 700 medals, I still have nearly 2,000 left. (2 items are listed) .... Page 478, 2nd Kashmir Infy., Order of Merit, 3rd class & Hunza 1891 420 Sepoy Manbir Thapa. It cost me £16!’ (Then in red ink, the price requested) - £15.0.0. .... signed ‘A. A. Payne’. With the letter is an associated index card and an extract from the Army Orders awarding the I.O.M.