Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Hyderabad 1843 (Asst. Apoty. Peter Cameron 1st T.H.A.) fitted with original silver clip and bar suspension, very fine
£500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Bombay Artillery.

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Provenance: Bought Spink 1956.

Peter Cameron was born at Bombay on 19 January 1817, the son of Duncan Cameron, proprietor of the Bombay Hotel and Tavern. He was baptised on 16 February and the absence of his mother’s name in the register indicates that she was of Indian or mixed blood. In 1832, at the age of 15, he joined the Army, probably as a Medical Apprentice. On 11 September 1837 he was promoted to Assistant Apothecary and Steward and was attached in 1839 to the Scinde Frontier Force. It is possible that he took part in the 1839 campaign in Afghanistan and was present at the capture of Ghuznee on 23 July.

In 1840 he served with the 2nd Bombay European Regiment and in 1841 was attached to the 1st Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery. He accompanied the Troop during the first Afghan War in 1842 and was present at the battle of Hyderabad on 24 March 1843 in the Scinde War. The Hospital Establishment, as shown on the Troop Roll for this action, consisted of himself, a Medical Apprentice, and four Beasties. He had, on 15 February 1843, been promoted to Steward, but the news had evidently not reached the Troop in the field as he is still shown on the Roll as an Assistant Apothecary.

Shortly afterwards he returned to the 2nd Bombay European Regiment (Light Infantry since 1840) and was at their Hospital at Belgaum when, on 4 September 1844, he married Sarah Heavy, daughter of Patrick Heavy. She was aged 14 and a widow which was not unusual at that time.

On 2 May 1846, he was promoted to Apothecary and in the same year was attached to H.Ms. 22nd Regiment. In 1854 he was attached to H.Ms. 83rd Regiment and on 1 May 1857 he was pensioned after 25 years service. He was aged 40 and is shown in the Pension Roll as being permitted to reside in Poonah. He died at Bombay on 12 March 1862, and was buried the same day at St Andrews Church.

On the outbreak of the Scinde War, the 1st Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, which had returned from Afghanistan in December 1842, marched from Ferozepore for Sukkur early in January 1843, commanded by Brevet Major J. T. Leslie. It was dispatched from Sukkur, in company with 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry and 8th Bombay Native Infantry, as reinforcements for Major-General Napier at Hyderabad. The force was commanded by Major M. Stack, of the 3rd Light Cavalry. The force arrived at Hyderabad on 22 March after a skirmish near the scene of the battle of Meeanee. Having given the new arrivals a days rest, Sir Charles Napier marched with his whole force from Hyderabad at daybreak on 24 March. At about 8.30 a.m. he came up on the enemy in a strongly defended position near Dubba, about six miles from the city. Here, the remaining Amir, Sher Mahomed, was defeated by the disciplined advance of infantry supported by artillery, with cavalry charges on the flanks.