Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Lieutenant C. A. Loch 1st Regt. Light Cavalry.) contemporary engraved naming in upright serif capitals, very fine £300-£400

Charles Adam Loch was born at Darnhall, Scotland, on 19 December 1830, one of four sons of Admiral Francis Erskine Loch. He was educated privately and sailed for India in October 1838, where he was posted as Ensign to the 1st Bombay Light Cavalry, becoming Lieutenant on 27 August 1844. He was present with his brother Captain F. A. E. Loch, of the same regiment, in the action against the mutineers at Nuserabad on 28 May 1857, when the 1st Bombay Light Cavalry made three or four gallant charges against a battery of guns. His brother afterwards wrote, ‘My brother I am happy to say, by some lucky accident, did not get a single wound, and is as well as can be.’

He was promoted to Captain in April 1860, to Major in October 1868, and to Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1874. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Loch died at sea, between Bombay and Aden in 1875 when he ‘Threw himself overboard on the voyage home during an attack of fever.’ (Hodson’s Card Index, National Army Museum, refers).