Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Indian Mutiny Medals awarded to the Creed brothers, both pupils and “Ragged Fusiliers” of the La Martinière College during the defence of Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (G. Creed)

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (E. A. Creed), this last a later issue with smaller obverse legend and re-engraved naming, occasional edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (2) £2500-3000

Approximately 50 boy pupils are on La Martinière College’s roll for the defence of Lucknow, including G. and E.A. Creed.

La Martinière was once the residence of the French General Claude Martin and established as a college for European and Eurasian boys in his memory. During the siege the elder boys, though not officially combatant, were armed with muskets and helped their masters in the defence of their quarters. The younger boys helped with some of the domestic work when servants deserted, or carried messages and ammunition to the posts. Whilst they were known as the “Ragged Fusiliers” by the soldiers of the 32nd, L. E. R. Rees, in his diary of the siege, makes known his disapproval of the tasks given to them: ‘The poor Martinière pupils, who go about the garrison more filthy than others, and apparently more neglected and hungry even than we are, are made use of to drive away these insects (flies) from the sick in hospital, and others. That they, too, should contribute their share of usefulness is but just and fair; but that they should be placed in menial attendance upon the healthy great in the garrison is, in my opinion, far from right. But I shall say nothing more on this subject, lest I assume a tone of censure.’