Auction Catalogue

28 February & 1 March 2018

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 98 x

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28 February 2018

Hammer Price:
£1,700

Three: Pipe-Major James McIntosh, 42nd Royal Highlanders, one of the first five Pipers officially authorised in the regiment; he was wounded in action at Fort Rooyah in April 1858 and died of typhus in April 1863

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (James McIntosh 42nd Royal Highlanders) contemporary engraved naming in the distinctive regimental style; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Corpl. J. McIntosh, 42nd Rl. Highlanders); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with small ring and wire loop for suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (3) £1400-1800

James McIntosh was born in April 1825 in the Parish of Inverness. He enlisted into the 92nd Highlanders (No. 1629) in 1842 and volunteered to the 42nd Royal Highlanders (No. 1957) on 30 April of the same year. At enlistment he was aged 17 years 2 months, a farm servant by trade. He was appointed Piper on 1 April 1854, one of the first five Pipers officially authorised in the regiment. Having spent a week in confinement in May 1854, he subsequently took part in the Eastern campaign of 1854-56, including the battles of the Alma, Balaklava, and the siege of Sebastopol. He was married at Dover on 4 February 1857, prior to embarking for India. He served during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857-58, including the final operations against Lucknow during March and and the engagement at Fort Rooyah, where he was wounded, on 15 April 1858. He had been promoted to Corporal on 1 January 1858. His pipes having failed on one occasion, he found a ‘fistful of young mice’ when he opened the bag. It is believed that Piper Bain had a part in it. He was appointed Pipe-Major on 1 August 1861, on the death of Pipe-Major Irvine. Pipe-Major James McIntosh died of typhus fever at the Regimental Hospital in Dugshai on 27 April 1863, leaving a widow and family.