Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major-General A. Macqueen, 42nd Bengal Native Infantry and Bengal Staff Corps

Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Lieut. A. Macqueen. 42nd. Regt. Bengal L.I.) contemporarily engraved naming, with later silver clip and silver straight bar suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Lieut. A: Macqueen. 42nd. Regt. L:I:); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Capt. A. Macqueen, Sub-Asst. Comy. Genl.) first and second with silver riband buckles, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine (3) £1800-2200

Andrew Macqueen was born on 17 March 1821 at Madras, India, the son of Captain Andrew Macqueen, 18th Madras Native Infantry, and was educated at Dollar Academy, Alloa, Scotland. Nominated as a cadet for the Honourable East India Company’s Bengal Infantry, he was commissioned Ensign on 18 June 1839 and, sailing on the Seringapatam, he arrived at Calcutta on 7 October of that year. Ordered to do duty with the 64th Bengal Native Infantry by General Order of 28 October 1839, he was posted three months later to the 42nd Bengal N.I., Army of the Indus, and served throughout the First Afghan War in the operations of the Kandahar force, and at the Occupation of Kelat in 1840 and Tazee in 1841. He was present at the actions at Kimjee Kuk, Punguair, and Tiboo Can, and at the major action near the Kandahar Cantonment on 29 May 1842, and at the actions at Mukoor on the 27 August and at Gowaine, 28-30 August 1842. He subsequently served as part of the relief force under Major-General Nott and was present at the re-capture of Ghuznee on 6 September 1842, at Bannee Badam and Mydon on 14-15 September 1842, and finally at the occupation of Kabul. He then participated in the expedition into Kohistan, thus being present at the storm, capture, and destruction of Istaliff and various minor affairs in and between the Bolan and Khyber Passes. Promoted Lieutenant, 21 August 1843, he served throughout the First Sikh War, and was present at the Battles of Moodkee,18 December 1845, Ferozeshuhur, 21-22 December 1845, and Sobraon, the ‘Indian Waterloo’, 10 February 1846, where he was severely wounded by gunshot. Appointed Adjutant of the 42nd N.I. on 23 September 1853, and promoted Captain the following June, he returned to the U.K. on furlough in May 1856.

Returning to India on the outbreak of the great Sepoy Mutiny, he was appointed Interpreter to the 23rd Foot, and proceeded up-country with them in October 1857. He was present at the defeat of the Gwalior Insurgent Force at Cawnpore and the affairs at Bare and Simree and other engagements in Oude Province. He subsequently took part in the Relief of Lucknow and the later Capture of Lucknow. Ordered to officiate as a temporary Sub-Assistant Commissary General from 19 December 1857, he remained in the Bengal Commissary Department for the rest of his career. Promoted Brevet Major on 18 February 1861, further promotions duly followed, to Lieutenant-Colonel on 18 June 1865, and Colonel five years later. Appointed Deputy Assistant Commissary General on 27 November 1871, he returned to the U.K. on furlough on 15 March 1875, never to return to India. Promoted Major-General on the Unemployed Supernumerary List, 1 July 1881, he died on 3 October 1883.