Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victoria Cross Autographs (2), the signatures of ‘T. A. Butler VC, Major 101st. Regt.’ and ‘Wm. Dowling’, both mounted for display purposes, extremely good condition (2) £140-180

V.C. London Gazette 6 May 1859: Lieutenant Thomas Adair Butler, 1st Bengal European Fusiliers. Date of Act of Bravery, 9th March 1858.
‘”Of which success the skirmishers on the other side of the river were subsequently apprised by Lieutenant Butler, of the Bengal Fusiliers, who swam across the Goomtee, and, climbing the parapet, remained in that position for a considerable time, under a heavy fire of musketry, until the work was occupied.”
(Extract of Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram's memorandum of operations carried on under his command at the siege of Lucknow, published in the Governor-General's Gazette Extraordinary, of the 5th April, 1858, and re-published in General Orders by the Commander-in-Chief in India, on the 27th of December, 1858.)’

Thomas Adair Butler was born in Soberton, Hampshire, in 1836 and was awarded the Victoria Cross whilst serving as a Lieutenant with the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers (later the 101st Royal Muster Fusiliers) during the Indian Mutiny. He later served during the Umbeyla Campaign in 1863, was subsequently advanced Major, and died in Camberley, Surrey, in 1901. His Victoria Cross in displayed at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.


V.C. London Gazette 22 November 1859: Private William Dowling, 32nd Regiment. Date of Acts of Bravery, 4th and 9th July, and 27th September 1857.
‘For distinguished gallantry on the 4th of July, 1857, in going out with two other men, since dead, and spiking two of the Enemy's guns. He killed a Soubadar of the Enemy by one of the guns. Also, for distinguished gallantry on the 9th of the same month, in going out again with three men, since dead, to spike one of the Enemy's guns. He had to retire, the spike being too small, but was exposed to the same danger. Also, for distinguished bravery, on the 27th of September, 1857, in spiking an 18-pounder gun during a Sortie, he being at the same time under a most heavy fire from the Enemy.’

William Dowling was born in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1825 and was awarded the Victoria Cross whilst serving as a Private with the 32nd Foot (Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry) during the Indian Mutiny. He was subsequently advanced Sergeant, and died in Liverpool in 1887. His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Regimental Museum in Bodmin, Cornwall.