Orders, Decorations and Medals

An unusual scroll hilt sword for John Finnis, 5th. Punjab Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force, the 82.5cm blade by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London, number 13548 for 1865, etched with crowned VR cypher amid foliate scrolls and within a cartouche the owner’s family crest and motto ‘Finis coronat opus’ and initials ‘JF’, steel scroll guard similar to that ordered for the Royal Engineers in brass, chequered back-strap and pommel, single piece chequered horn grip bound with brass wire, complete with its steel scabbard, some service wear overall and scabbard with numerous dents
£200-250

The Wilkinson proof books record sword number 13548 as infantry for Finnis sold, 1865, it was presumably re-mounted for Finnis during his service in India.

Colonel John Finnis, Ensign 29th. Bengal Native Infantry 1857, his regiment having mutinied, he served through the mutiny with the 5th. Bengal European Regiment, joining the 3rd. Punjab Infantry in 1868, he died at Mussoorie, September 12th. 1884 whist serving as a Lt. Colonel with the 5th. Punjab Infantry.

His war services are shown as Indian Mutiny 1857-58; operations in Oudh, affairs of Shapore, Dudoopore and Khandoo Nuddee (medal); Mahsud Waziri Expedition, 1881.