Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Capt. S. Chalmers, Sub-Asst. Comy. Genl.) good very fine £500-£600

Provenance: Elson Collection, Glendinings 1963.

Sidney Chalmers was born at Cawnpore on 4 August 1833. Educated at Rev. Robert Morris, Edinburgh, he was nominated for the H.E.I.C. Army by Campbell Bart and recommended by Mrs Simpson. He sailed to India on the Ripon on 20 December 1850.

Ensign 53rd Native Infantry, 9 December 1852; Lieutenant, 22 April 1855; Captain, 23 October 1857; Major, 21 October 1864; Lieutenant-Colonel, 19 October 1868; Colonel, 10 October 1873; Major-General, 23 April 1884; Lieutenant-General, 23 March 1887.

Most officers of the 53rd Native Infantry were murdered by mutineers at Cawnpore on or about 27 June 1857. Only three survived, Captain Mowbray Thompson who managed to swim away from the boats during the massacre, Ensign Delafosse, Privates Murphy and Sullivan, and Lieutenant Sidney Chalmers who was absent from the regiment on commissary duties at Agra.

Chalmers joined the 53rd Bengal Native Infantry on 22 April 1853 as Interpreter and Quartermaster. In the Sonthal Insurrection of 1855, he did service as Sub-Assistant and Deputy Assistant Commissary General at Umballah, Agra and Meerut. He was senior Assistant Commissary Officer in the Jaunpore Field Force under Major-General Franks, and served as Commissary Officer in charge of the 4th Division of the Army at the capture of Lucknow. Mentioned in the Calcutta Gazette of 28 April 1858.

‘The authorities, after Delhi had remained several months peacefully in their hands, resolved on the formation of a camel corps, under a peculiar system of organisation. It was completed by the end of March, by a native named Lalla Jotee Pershaud, under the superintendence of Captain Chalmers, Assistant Commissary-General. The camels, 400 in number were selected with great care, in the Bikaneer district. The drivers were each armed with a sword and fusil; and each camel fitted to carry a European soldier if necessary.’ (The Revolt in India 1858, refers).

Chalmers was severely wounded at Lucknow on 16 March 1858, in circumstances described in the Homeward Mail from India, China and the East of 4 May 1858: ‘We very truly regret to learn that Lieut. Sidney Chalmers, Assistant Commissary General, with Brigadiers Franks’ force, has met with a very serious accident whilst on duty. He was challenged by a European sentry, but replied in Hindustani, the sentry fired his musket through the lungs of the unfortunate officer. There are hopes of his recovery.’

Lieutenant-General Chalmers died at Faygate, Sussex, on 10 August 1892.