Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (Gunner J. Galen. Artillery) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly 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 Baldwin 1961.

John Galen was born in 1830 at Longford, Ireland, and enlisted at Westminster on 4 June 1850, for 12 years service. He embarked for India aboard the Equestrian on 31 August 1850, and arrived there on 17 January 1851. Posted to the Horse Artillery, he served with 3rd Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, in Persia and later in Central India during the Indian Mutiny. He was promoted to Bombardier on 16 December 1859, and re-engaged on 20 May 1860. On 21 May in the following year he volunteered for the Royal Artillery and transferred as Bombardier, being promoted to Corporal on 3 February 1862 and to Sergeant on 12 December 1865. He was tried by Court Martial and reduced to Private on 20 February 1866, and was discharged at his own request after 21 years service, from ‘A’ Battery ‘E’ Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, on 30 November 1869. He was then in possession of three good conduct badges and medals for Persia and Central India. Sold with copied discharge papers.

3rd Troop Bombay Horse Artillery served in the Persian War of 1856-57 as part of the 1st Division, under Major-General Stalker. It took part in the landing at Hallila Bay and storming of Reshire, 9 December 1856, and the capture of Bushire, 10 December. Under Sir John Outram, it marched on the entrenched position of Borazgoon, 3-6 February, a distance of 46 miles covered in 41 hours in bad weather, and took part in the action at Khooshab on 8 February. Accompanied the force by sea to the mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab and took part in the capture of Mohammerah on 26 March.