Orders, Decorations and Medals

Postmarked Letter, from A. Anstruther of Madras to Captain de Havilland at Seringapatam, dated 11 July 1809, concerning the collection of a certain property, part torn, fold marks, good condition £20-30

Sir Alexander Anstruther was born on 10 September 1769, the son of Sir R. Anstruther, Bart. He was called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn. Becoming a Judge, he was Advocate-General, Madras, 1803 and Recorder of Bombay, 1812. He died on 16 July 1819.

Thomas Fiott de Havilland was born on 10 April 1775, the eldest son of Sir Peter de Havilland of Havilland Hall, Guernsey. In 1793 he obtained a Madras Cadetship and on 3 May 1793 was appointed an Ensign in the Madras engineers. Attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1824, he served at the siege of Pondicherry, 1793, the reduction of Ceylon, 1795-96, he marched with Colonel Browne’s force to assist in the operations against Tippoo Sahib in 1799, accompanied Baird’s troops up the Red Sea to Egypt in 1801. On his return he was captured by a French cruiser, but was speedily released. He served with his corps in India until 1812 when he returned home. There he was commissioned to build the Jeybourg Barracks, Guernsey. In 1814 he was appointed civil engineer and architect for the Madras Presidency, an appointment he held until his retirement from the service in 1825. He built the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s Presbterian Church, Madras. After his retirement de Havilland devoted himself to the affairs of Guernsey, becoming a justice and a member of the legislature. He died at Beauvoir, Guernsey on 23 February 1866.

Sold with a typed copy of the letter and copied biographical details of both parties.