Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Gunr. Thos. Ellis, 1st Tp. H. Bde. Bombay Arty.) good very fine £250-300

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 1962, ex Colonel Vigors Collection.

Thomas Ellis was born in Liverpool in 1837 and enlisted at Warley Barracks on 3 March 1856, for 12 years. He embarked for India aboard the Owen Glendower on 28 August 1856, and arrived there on 21 December. Posted to the Bombay Horse Artillery, he served in the 1st Troop during the Indian Mutiny. He was discharged from the H.E.I.C. Forces on 6 July 1859. 1st troop, Bombay Horse Artillery formed part of the 2nd Brigade, Central India Field Force, under Sir Hugh Rose and Brigadier-General Stewart, taking part in the reduction of Rahatgarh, 26 January 1858; Barodia (2 guns) 30 January; relief of Saugor, 3 February; capture of Garhakota, 11 February; move towards Jhansi where the two Brigades reunite; siege of Jhansi, battle of Betwa, 1 April; capture of Jhansi, 3 April (C.O. Lieutenant-Colonel S. Turnbull killed); operations against Kalpi, battles of Kunch, 7 May, and Golavli, 22 May; capture of Kalpi, 22 May. The 2nd Brigade now under the command of Sir Robert Napier, action at Morar, 16 June; Brigadier-General Smith’s brigade of the Rajputana F.F. joins 18 June; capture of Gwalior, 20 June; pursuit of garrison, battle of Jaora Alipore, 28 June.

In his despatch dated 13 October 1858, Sir Hugh Rose says ‘...I am indebted to the officers and men of the 1st or Eagle Troop Bombay Horse Artillery for their excellent and gallant conduct throughout the campaign. In my actions I made very liberal use of the Troop in pouring an unexpected or flank fire into the enemy. On all these occasions the 1st Troop was worthy of its former fame, and proved that no arm of the service is more dangerous to its foes than fleet Artillery.’