Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

The M.G.S., Army of India and Gwalior campaign group of three awarded to Major-General J. J. Farrington, Bengal Artillery

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (Lieut. Arty.); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (Captn., Arty.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Lieutt. Col., 4th Battn. Arty.) with original hook suspension fitted with slip-on ring, nearly extremely fine (3) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Military Awards from the Collection of John Tamplin.

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John James Farrington was born on 13 February 1790, and baptised on 17 March 1790 at St Dunstans-in-the-East. He was nominated for a Cadetship in the H.E.I.C. by ‘the Board’ and passed, after examination, on 30 May 1804. Granted a commission as a Fireworker on 17 September 1808, he arrived in India on 28 October of that year. He was promoted Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery on 5 December 1809, and saw his first active service at the capture of Java in August 1811 when he was serving in 1 Company, 2 Battalion, Foot Artillery.

He was subsequently engaged at the capture of Djoejocarta in 1812, and in the operations on the Island of Celebes in 1816. He returned from Java in December 1816 and later served in the Third Mahratta war of 1817-18, when he was in the 5th Troop, Bengal Horse Artillery. He took part in the operations in Kotah in 1821, and was mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Maxwell, Commanding the Field Force in Harrowtee, dated ‘Camp, at Mongroule, October 1, 1821’ and published in the London Gazette of 20 March 1822.

Farrington was promoted Captain on 8 August 1821, and next served at the siege of Bhurtpoor in January 1826, when he was commanding 4 Troop, 2 Brigade, Horse Artillery. From 1828-30 he commanded 3 Troop, 1 Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, and then 3 Troop, 3 Brigade, from 1832-40. He was promoted Brevet Major on 10 January 1837, and Major on 18 January 1837. From 6 October 1838 he commanded the Neemuch Divisional Artillery, and then the Mewar Divisional Artillery until 15 September 1839. From 6 November 1840 he commanded 2 Brigade, Horse Artillery. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 23 November 1841, Farrington was posted to 4 Battalion, Foot Artillery, the following March. It was with this Battalion that he served at the battle of Maharajpoor on 29 December 1843.

He was promoted to Colonel on 2 February 1851, and was Acting Commandant of the Bengal Artillery during May-June 1851. He received his final promotion to Major-General on 28 November 1854. Major-General J. J. Farrington died at Leamington on 13 October 1858, aged 68.