Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Indian Mutiny ‘50th Anniversary’ C.B. group of five awarded to Colonel Aylmer MacIver-Campbell (formerly Aylmer Vivian), 3rd Punjab Cavalry, who commanded a Ressala of Pathan Horse during the mutiny in 1857-59, and was mentioned in despatches for services in the march from Kabul to Kandahar and at the battle of Kandahar in 1880

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, lacking ribbon buckle; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Lieut. A. Vivian, 3rd Punjab Cavy.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut. A. Vivian, Pathan Horse) probably unique to a British officer in the regiment; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Major A. Vivian, 3rd Punjab Cavy.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Major A. Vivian 3rd Punjab Cavalry) generally good very fine or better (5) £4,000-£5,000

Aylmer Vivian was born on 19 January 1837, youngest son of the Rev. Charles Pasley Vivian of Hatton Hall, Wellingborough, who died in December 1842. He was commissioned Ensign on 9 December 1854, and promoted to Lieutenant on 16 January 1857.

Lieutenant Aylmer Vivian ‘commanded a Ressala of Pathan Horse during the mutiny in 1857-59; assisted in the suppression of the rebellion of the Jat tribes of the Ravee in the Googaira district in 1857; served Brigadier Franks’ column in the advance on Lucknow in February 1858, and present at the capture of the fort of Dhowrara on 4 March 1858; also during the operations before, and capture of, Lucknow under Lord Clyde; in March 1858 (Medal with Clasp). Stationed at Oonao on the Lucknow and Cawnpore road, from April to November 1858, assisting in keeping the road clear from the rebels, during which time he had frequent skirmishes with the enemy. Served with Colonel Kelly’s column in the operations on the Nepaul frontier in 1859; and present at the attack on the rebel position in the hills near Booswul on 28 March. Mentioned in Colonel Kelly’s Despatch, 30 March 1859.

Served with the 3rd Punjab Cavalry in the expedition under Brigadier-General Chamberlain against the Mahsood Wuzeerees in April 1860, including the repulse of the enemy’s attack on them at Paloseen, and the forcing of the Barrarah Pass (Medal with Clasp). He commanded the 3rd Punjab Cavalry throughout the period it was employed in the war in Afghanistan since arriving at Kabul in the beginning of April 1880, taking part in the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar, the battle of Kandahar, and the operations against the Marris with the expeditionary force under Brigadier-General Macgregor (Mentioned in Despatches; Medal with Clasp, and Bronze Decoration).

Aylmer Vivian married in 1865, Margaret Agnes, daughter of Colonel J. D. MacIver-Campbell of Asknish, and upon his death in the early 1880s, assumed the surname of MacIver-Campbell in place of his own. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 3rd Punjab Cavalry on 9 December 1880, and retired with the honorary rank of Colonel on 19 May 1884. He was afterwards a J.P. and D.L. for Argyllshire, and was made a Companion of the Military Order of the Bath in 1908, ‘in commemoration of the Military Operations in India in 1857 and 1858.’ Colonel Aylmer MacIver-Campbell died on 13 February 1915.