Auction Catalogue

16 December 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 66

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16 December 2003

Hammer Price:
£550

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Verriers) extremely fine and a scarce civilian award £350-400

Sold with various contemporary copies of despatches and documents which mentions Mr L. Verriers, Customs Department, Saugor Division, for the gallant and spirited way in which he led his men into action during a skirmish on 20th February, 1858, near Dhamoni, Central India.

‘Major [W. A.] Orr had advanced to Barole with some Hyderabad Cavalry, and on the 18th February [1858] received information that a strong party of insurgent Bundelas in the service of the Banpur Raja had advanced from Dhamoni towards Barole and had taken possession of and fortified a post about five miles off. As the country was impracticable for cavalry, and Major Orr had nothing else, he obtained 150 Barkandazes from the Customs Police department at Bandri, under Mr Bartie and Mr Verrier
(sic) of the Customs Department, and came upon the rebels four miles along the road. They had fortified a ridge, covered with thick jungle, with stone breastworks, beyond a stream which crossed the road. From this they opened a heavy fire on the head of the column, but the infantry, gallantly led by the two Customs officers, carried the position, and killed eight or ten of the enemy, taking two prisoners, who were shot.’ (Ref The Revolt in Central India 1857-59, compiled in the Intelligence Branch Division of the Chief of the Staff, Army Head Quarters, India, Government Press, Simla, 1908)