Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (2nd Lieut. G. M. Dobbin, 5th Batt. Arty.) suspension refixed, nearly very fine £460-500

George Miller Dobbin was born in Dublin on 21 January 1833, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery, from Addiscombe, on 9 December 1850. He served in the 5th Battalion Bengal Artillery in Burma in the operations in and around Rangoon, under Major C. S. Reid, who with four guns effected the breach in the White House Stockade for the stormers of the 51st Regiment on 12 April 1852. In March of the following year, he took part in Sir John Cheape’s 1500-strong Donubyu expedition to hunt down Myat Tun, which after a punishing series of marches and counter-marches tracked the rebel chief to his powerful stronghold at the head of a creek. On 19 March, at the bloody repulse of the first infantry assault, Sir John Cheape sent for the expedition’s sole howitzer, and only 9-pounder, in order to maintain the pressure on the enemy whilst a second infantry attempt was mounted. Reid responded with alacrity and ‘brought up his two guns to within 25 yards of the enemy’s position and in open ground began to fire cannister. When Reid was wounded, Lieutenant St. G. Ashe took his place and, helped by Lieutenant G. M. Dobbin, continued to fire.’ Finally, on Sir John’s orders, the Light Infantry call was sounded and the troops rallied to carry the stockades.

During the Indian Mutiny Dobbin held Phillaur Fort as the Officiating Deputy Commissary of Ordnance in charge of the magazine, surviving intact the co-ordinated mutiny of the Phillaur Garrison and that of the neighbouring Jullundur. He was mentioned in the Governor General’s minute of 2 July 1859, and received a letter from the Secretary of State for India conveying Her Majesty’s approbation of his conduct during the mutiny.

He was advanced to Major in July 1872 and retired as Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel on 4 February 1874. A Justice of the Peace for counties Armagh and Louth, Colonel Dobbin, who was High Sheriff of Armagh in 1884, died at Drumulla House, County Louth, on 6 July 1919, aged 86 years. Sold with comprehensive research.