Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, North West Frontier, Bhootan (Lieut C Mercer 1st Goorkha Regt.) toned, good very fine £500-£600

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

Charles Mercer was appointed Ensign in the 6th Bengal European Infantry on 16 August 1859, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 7 April 1860. He was appointed Second Wing Subaltern of the 1st Goorkha Regiment on 14 October 1865. During the previous year the Hon. Ashley Eden, head of the British diplomatic mission to Bhootan, was badly treated by the Bhootanese government. Such a slight could not go unpunished, and so four British columns entered Bhootan under the command of Brigadier-General W. E. Mulcaster. Having offered resistance at Dhalimcote, Bhumsong and Charmoorchee, the Bhootanese surrendered in 1866. Mercer was promoted to Captain on 19 October 1868, becoming Quartermaster of the 1st Goorkhas on 10 November 1874. He died at Dharmsala on 22 May 1877.