India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Umbeyla (161 Piper W Mc.Donald H.M. 93rd. Highrs.) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise very fine £180-£220

William McDonald was born in Inverness in 1830, and attested for the 92nd Regiment of Foot on 9 July 1852. He transferred to the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders on 1 March 1857, and served with them in India during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the Second Relief of Lucknow and subsequent operations (entitled to an Indian Mutiny Medal with clasps Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow). He was appointed a Piper on 29 January 1859, and saw further service during the Umbeyla campaign, November 1863 to January 1864, including the defence of the camp in the Umbeyla Pass on 16 December 1863. He was discharged on 9 September 1873, after 21 years and 35 days’ service, of which 12 and a half years were spent in India, his character rated ‘indifferent.’

Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extracts, and an annotated group photographic image of members of the 93rd at Sialkot in 1864, showing the recipient.