Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Fine Portrait Miniature, Silver Flap Pouch, and Indian Mutiny Diary of Surgeon General W. H. Muschamp, who served as Assistant Surgeon with the 82nd Regiment of Foot in both the Crimea and in the North West Provinces during the Great Sepoy Mutiny

i) A fine Portrait Miniature of Surgeon General Muschamp, in Military Dress, wearing the Crimea Medal, 110mm x 80mm, housed within a gilt frame in a rectangular dark brown leather case, the inside of the case with red velvet lining and gilt tooled, the two sections of the case detached, the portrait in excellent condition

ii) Silver Flap Pouch, the engraved front with indistinct hallmarks and surmounted by an ornate crowned VR cypher in gilt, with superimposed eagle, with black Moroccan leather pouch, and complete with side belt fixings, the securing leather tab no longer present, generally good condition

iii) The recipient’s Indian Mutiny Diary, 39pp, loose pages later bound within paper covers, covering the period 20 May 1857 to 27 May 1858, with brief sporadic entries to the early 1860s, a full and interesting account giving accurate with regards to both the date and place of entries, some of the earlier entries slightly difficult to decipher, as usual for the period, overall good condition (3) £600-£800

William Henry Muschamp was born in 1816 and entered the Army as an Assistant-Surgeon on 23 January 1855. He served with the 82nd Regiment of Foot in the Crimea from 30 August 1855, and was present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol and attack of the 8 September (Medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and Turkish Crimea Medal). He saw further service with the 82nd Foot on the North West Provinces in suppressing the Great Sepoy Mutiny including the operations at Cawnpore under General Windham and the defeat there of the Gwalior Contingent; the actions of Kalee Nuddee and Khankur; the capture of Bareilly; the relief of Shahjehanpore; and the affairs of Mahomdee, Shahabad, and Bunkagahon (Medal). Promoted Surgeon on 9 November 1867, he was advanced Surgeon Major on 1 March 1873; Brigade-Surgeon on 26 May 1880; and Deputy Surgeon General on 10 September 1883. He retired with the honorary rank of Surgeon General on 12 May 1886, and died in Brompton, London, in August 1897.