Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Field Officer’s Telescope.
A mid-19th Century Field Officer’s two-drawer brass telescope by Troughton & Simms, London, brass mounted throughout and extending to 420mm, with integrated rear lens cover and leather bound front panel with two strap loops for attachment to uniform, the later partially detached, the first drawer engraved ‘Captn. William Master, 5th Fusileers’, in good working condition £200-£300

William Chester Master was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot, by purchase, on 23 April 1839, and was promoted Lieutenant (by purchase) on 26 October 1841, and Captain (by purchase) on 29 December 1846. Proceeding with the Regiment to India he received his Majority on 4 September 1857 and commanded the 5th Fusiliers at the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857, served with it in Outram’s force at the Alumbagh and in all the operations of the succeeding months, and commanded the Regiment at the capture of Lucknow.

Promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 March 1858, Master saw further service throughout the Oude campaign of 1858-59, including the action of Dounderkeira and Buxarghat, and the capture of the fort of Oomrea. Several times Mentioned in Despatches, for his services during the Mutiny he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1863.