Auction Catalogue

13 December 2007

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 693

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13 December 2007

Hammer Price:
£1,600

Four: Major Valpy F. T. Turner, 1st Bengal Cavalry

Cabul 1842
, unnamed as issued, fitted with steel clip and bar suspension and top suspension brooch inscribed in incuse letters ‘Cabul’; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Lieutt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Regt. Light Cavalry) fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846 (Bt. Capt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Regt. L:C:); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Bt. Capt. V. F. T. Turner, 1st Bengal Cavy.) naming lightly rubbed on the last two, generally good very fine (4) £1600-2000

Ex Spink N.C. January 1970, when contained in fitted leather case together with four original commission documents; ex Alan Wolfe Collection 2005.

Valpy Francis Thomas Turner was born in London on 27 March 1808, son of the Rev. John Turner, D.D., of Chiswick. He was educated at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, and was nominated for the Bengal cavalry in the cadet season of 1826. Turner arrived in India in October 1827, and early the following year was doing duty with the 6th Light Cavalry with the rank of Cornet. In November of that year he was transferred to the 1st Light Cavalry, with which he served for the remainder of his military career. Promoted to Captain in June 1842, he served in Afghanistan later that year, at the re-occupation of Cabul with Pollock’s Force, and later in the Gwalior campaign, at the battle of Maharajpoor. He served during the first and second Sikh war, being present at Aliwal, Chilianwala and Goojerat. He retired form the service in February 1853 and was promoted Honorary Mahor shortly afterwards. Major Turner died at his residence in Brighton on 14 October 1898, aged 90. Sold with copied research; together with four original commission documents granting the recipient the ranks of Cornet, Lieutenant, Captain and Major.