Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The superb silver-gilt presentation sword and other items relating to the early history of the H.E.I.C.’s Steam Navy and, more specifically, the celebrated paddle sloop Hugh Lindsay, and her master Commander John Henry Wilson

An exceptionally fine and ornate silver-gilt presentation sword for Captain Jonathan Henry Wilson of the East India Company Navy, the 80 cm ‘Prosser’ style pipe-back blade finely frost-etched for its entire length including the following, the full Royal Arms and Supporters, the rampant lion and fouled anchor of the HEIC on a mock-damascus ground surrounded by wreaths of laurel and oak leaves, a terrestrial globe and naval trophies of arms, winged fame, a dolphin and the union flag, and within a cartouche of oak leaves the family crest and arms of Wilson displayed on a shield the motto ‘God is my strength’ and within a large panel the presentation inscription ‘Presented as a mark of esteem and regard, to Captn. Jno. Heny. Wilson of the Indian Navy by the under mentioned friends, whom his constant kindness and urbanity, attached-during a passage from Bombay to the Red Sea in Novr. and Decr. 1835’ and within scrolling ribbons at the forte appear twelve names, presumably the passengers on the vessel who subscribed to the sword, predominantly officers of the HEIC service, although there are several civilians among them, including Charles Norris Esq. Bombay Civil Service, Captain I. E. Williams, Madras Army, Captain C. H. Delamain, Bombay Cavalry, Lieut. H. Stamford, Bombay Artillery, Lieut. R. Knox, H. M. 4th. Light Dragoons, Lieut. G. I. Huband of the same regiment and Ensign R. Travers of the Bombay Army, all of the above surrounded by intricate floral scrolls etc. running the length of the blade. All of the hilt and scabbard mounts are of finely worked silver-gilt, hallmarked for London 1836 and bear the maker’s touch mark TB. The ‘bars’ to the solid half-basket guard enriched with oak leaves and acorns the cartouche applied with the HEIC lion and fouled anchor the ferule and the back-strap finely cast and chased with laurels and the pommel a finely chased lion’s head, wood grip covered with white fish-skin bound with gilt wire. Complete with its wood scabbard covered with polished black shagreen, with finely embossed and chased mounts overall, comprising of the chape embossed and chased with Union Flags, ships sails and a cannon on its carriage, etc., the middle mount with Union Flags, a crowned fouled anchor and crossed cannon barrels and the long chape with coiled dolphins, all surrounded with embossed acanthus leaves etc., two hanging rings in the form of coiled rope, the scabbard partly split along the cutting edge and the blade with several isolated but severe areas of rust damage, otherwise although neglected the sword is in good condition overall and should respond well to careful cleaning £3000-4000

The presentation sword is accompanied by the following related artefacts:

i. Pen and ink drawing of the Hugh Lindsay at sea under steam only, 25.5 x 15.5cms., mounted in a glazed gilt frame with moulded corners and with an eight-line dedication detailing the vessel and her master, Commander John Henry Wilson, I.N.; glued to the reverse of the frame is a lengthy mss. description of the scene depicted in the drawing, partly chipped and faded, beginning:-

“Hugh Lindsay... steaming around the eastern end of the island of Perim [off the Yemeni coast, at the mouth of the Red Sea]... off the Little Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb...” The inscription concludes “...drawn by [but the artist’s name sadly indistinct]”.
N.B. Although undated, there is little doubt that this drawing was intended to record the Hugh Lindsay on her maiden voyage in 1830.

ii. Portrait of Commander John Henry Wilson, three-quarter length, facing right, in uniform (but hatless), oil on canvas, 49 x 43.5cms., in elaborate gilt frame

iii. An oval lidded copper box, 10cms. high, the domed lid with lengthy inscription in various styles of engraving detailing the Hugh Lindsay and her career, and noting that on her famous maiden voyage she had carried “Goverment (sic) Despatches & 306 Private Letters”

This box, crafted from copper off the Hugh Lindsay, was probably made when the vessel was finally withdrawn for scrapping in 1856 after nearly thirty years at sea. Interestingly, her engines were also salvaged and re-used in the steam sloop Lady Canning launched on 24th March 1857.

John Henry Wilson first came to official notice as a young lieutenant on the Benares when he participated in the Bombay Marine’s assault on Mocha [on the Red Sea coast of Arabia, just north of Aden] where, when the enemy garrison capitulated on 30th December 1820, he (and a seaman) was “seriously burned” by an exploding mine after already distinguishing himself during the initial landings. By December 1829 – and by now promoted to commander – Wilson was overseeing the fitting out of the new steam sloop Hugh Lindsay recently completed in the Bombay yard of Nowrojee Jamsetjee, the so-called ‘Master Builder’ [of Bombay]. Wilson’s six year tenure as master of the Hugh Lindsay was to make him one of the most celebrated mariners of the eastern seas and he was undoubtedly one of the foremost pioneers of steam navigation east of Suez. After relinquishing his sea command, he was appointed Comptroller of Bombay Dockyard in February 1836, a position he held until May 1838 when he retired from the H.E.I.C.’s service; he died in December 1875, largely forgotten and, to history’s shame, having never received any official recognition of his achievements.

The Hugh Lindsay was the first steamship built at Bombay and was launched by Mrs. Wilson (presumably the new master’s wife) on 14th October 1829. Measured at 411 tons and powered by two 80HP. Engines, she mounted four guns and her entry into service marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian Marine. However, when she left Bombay on 20th March 1830, bound for Suez on her maiden voyage, carrying a single passenger and 306 pieces of private mail, her decks were almost awash and her paddles could barely turn being so low in the water. Those observing her departure noted this with some concern and one wag even christened her the “Water Lily” because the swell seemed to be lapping her main deck. Designed with bunker space for only five-and-a-half days’ consumption of coal, Wilson had actually been obliged to load enough coal for eleven days, sufficient to get the ship the 1,641 miles to the first coaling station at Aden. Wilson had calculated well however, and when the Hugh Lindsay arrived off Aden on 31st March, having completed the first leg of the voyage solely under steam, only six hours of consumption of coal remained in the stokehold. After re-coaling, the ship headed for Mocha to land official despatches and arrived at Suez on 22nd April, the complete voyage of 3,000 miles having taken twenty-two days and sixteen hours including stoppages. From Suez, the mail which Wilson had brought went straight overland to Alexandria and thence by packet steamer to London. The whole “experiment” – as it was referred to at the time – to test the feasibility of a steam service to convey the London mails, had proved a triumph and Wilson returned to Bombay to receive a hero’s welcome and the thanks of the Bombay government. The successful establishment of this steam link to Suez had a profound and immediate effect on Indian affairs and J. H. Wilson’s role in it can hardly be overestimated [For a full account of this epic voyage and indeed the Hugh Lindsay’s later career, see C. R. Low’s History of the Indian Navy, publ. 1877 & reprinted 1990].

Although mechanically reliable as well as long-lived, there is some evidence that the Hugh Lindsay was not particularly seaworthy. Moreover, her regular scheduled route from Bombay to Suez took her through the Red Sea at a time when that area was infested with pirates. Thus, any prospective passengers were well aware of the risks they were running when taking passage in her and it is little wonder that when she stranded on an uncharted sandbank in the Red Sea, bound for Suez, on 8th December 1835, those passengers aboard expressed their profound gratitude to Commander Wilson, after he successfully re-floated his ship and almost certainly saved their lives by so doing, with the presentation of this handsome sword. Wilson’s own report, which duty obliged him to send to East India House in London, takes up the story:

“... as the water was perfectly smooth when the vessel grounded and continued so, no other steps were taken than moving aft the chains and such other things as were at hand... the vessel backed off but, coming too quickly, she again touched the bank but in a few minutes, her head swinging round, set on the engines half power.... On 9th December morning, the Hugh Lindsay stood in her usual anchorage and the packets [of mail] were despatched to Cairo without delay. Divers on examining the vessel’s bottom it was found that not the slightest injury had been done to the copper or otherwise by taking the ground” [i.e. running aground].

The passengers aboard at the time comprised Mrs Norris, C Norris, James Henderson, Captain Roberts, Captain Williams, Captain Delamain, 3rd Bombay LC, Dr Jefferson, Civil occulist, Lt Stamford, Artillery, Lieutenants Husband and Knox, HM 4th Light Dragoons, & Ensign Travers.

See Lot 752 for this officer’s service sword.