Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (2nd. Capt. C. W. Maynard, 1st. Bde. Bengl. H. Art.) good very fine £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from a Mutiny Collection.

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Provenance: George McIlroy Collection.

Charles Walsham Maynard was born on 2 November 1829, the son of Commander Joseph Maynard, R.N., of Fullerton House, Ayr, and was educated at Glasgow University and Addiscombe. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery on 8 June 1849, and was promoted Lieutenant on 28 May 1855. He served during the Great Sepoy Mutiny with 5th Troop, 1st Bengal Horse Artillery at Jullundur, and personally accounted for eleven mutineers - the History of the Royal and Indian Artillery in the Indian Mutiny by Colonel C. Jocelyn gives the following account:

‘At Jullandar, Brigadier M. C. Johnstone commanded the station, and though strongly advised by the resolute Commissioner, Major E. Lake, to disarm the Sepoys he allowed himself to be persuaded by their commissioned officers that they were good and loyal men. Even when the inevitable outbreak occurred on the night of 7 June, he displayed lamentable indecision; and when the cavalry who were evidently the ringleaders came within range of the guns of 1/1 Bengal Horse artillery, Johnstone who happened to be beside them forbade them to fire. Elsewhere however, a party of Sowars charged the guns of the native troop 5/1 Bengal Horse Artillery, under the command of Lieutenant C. W. Maynard with cries of Deen! Deen! But Maynard gave them a salvo of case, and emptied eleven saddles.’

According to the History of the Indian Mutiny by Kaye and Malleson, the 5th Troop 1st Brigade (Native) Bengal Horse Artillery was the only battery of native artillery which remained faithful when it had the chance of mutinying. Following the outbreak of the mutiny they were marched from Jallandar to Delhi under Lieutenant Renny. When the city had fallen, guns and horses were restored to his men, and the 5th Troop 1st Brigade subsequently did gallant service in the Rohilkhand campaign.’

Maynard is the only no clasp medal listed to an officer on the roll of the 5th Troop, 1st Bengal Horse Artillery, all others receiving the clasp for Delhi. He subsequently served with the troop in the Rohilkhand Campaign, and was promoted Second Captain on 27 August 1858.

Maynard retired on 20 February 1867, and was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Midlothian Volunteer Artillery Corps on 9 March 1867. He was promoted Major on 11 June 1871. He died in April 1917.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient.