Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Nagpore, Ava (J. Mulholland, 1st Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £1,800-£2,200

Provenance: Sotheby, October 1879 and February 1921; Mackenzie Collection 1934; Glendining’s, September 1950 and September 1974.

147 clasps for Nagpore issued to Europeans, including 95 to the 1st Foot, of which 48 also had the clasp for Ava. The 1st Foot were the only British regiment present at Nagpore.

John Mulholland was born in the Parish of Aughall, County Antrim, and attested for the 1st Foot at Belfast on 10 July 1813, aged 15, a boot closer by trade. He was posted to the 1st Battalion but deserted on 28 March 1814. He reappeared on 11 April 1815 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, with whom he remained for the rest of his service. He served during his adult time in the East Indies from 10 July 1816 to 26 October 1831, and was discharged at Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin, on 29 August 1834, in consequence of fever and dysentery. Sold with copied discharge papers.