Auction Catalogue

17 September 2004

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 959 x

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17 September 2004

Hammer Price:
£3,300

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Battine, 2nd Dragoon Guards, late Scinde Irregular Horse, 16th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers and 10th Hussars

India General Service 1854-95
, 2 clasps, Persia, North West Frontier (Lieut., Scinde Irr. Horse); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Lieut., D.A.Q.M. Genl., G.O.F.F.), heavy contact marks and edge bruising, but otherwise generally good fine (2) £2000-2500

William Alexander Battine was born at Fort William, Calcutta in January 1831, the son of Major-General William Battine, C.B., Bengal Artillery, and was educated at Rugby. Appointed an Ensign in the 43rd Native Infantry in August 1850, he transferred to the 16th Irregular Cavalry as a Lieutenant and Adjutant in May 1854.

Battine was subsequently engaged in operations on the Peshawur front against local hill tribes, 1854-56, and in the Persian operations of 1857 (Medal and 2 clasps). He also witnessed considerable action in the Indian Mutiny, when he ‘served in Bengal with Havelock’s column, on the staff of that General, and was present in several actions leading to, and ending in the relief of the Residency at Lucknow on 25 September 1857; also during the subsequent defence as Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General to the force until its final relief by Lord Clyde on 24 November 1857 (Medal and clasp and a year’s service)’.

Back home on furlough in 1860, Battine resigned his commission in the Indian Army and was appointed a Cornet in the 16th Light Dragoons. He later transferred to the 17th Lancers and the 10th Hussars, and actually ended his career as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, retiring in December 1880. He died at Brighton in March 1910.