Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Capt. W. Birch, attd. to [..] Madras Fusrs.) edge bruising, contact marks, good fine £600-650

Walter Birch was commissioned an Ensign in the Indian Army on 31 March 1837 and was promoted Lieutenant in 1841 and Captain in 1851. He commanded a wing of the 7th Bengal Native Infantry employed in quelling the Sonthal Mutiny during July 1855-February 1856. In the Indian Mutiny, when the 7th B.N.I. mutinied at Dinapore on 25 July 1857, he attached himself to the 1st Madras Fusiliers. With Havelock’s force he was present at the action at Mangalwar on 21 September 1857, the capture of Alum Bagh at Lucknow on 23 September, the entry into the Lucknow Residency on 25 September and in the defence of the city until 13 November 1857. He was promoted Major in 1859 and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 104th Regiment in 1862, a post he was to hold until his retirement with the rank of Major-General in 1868. Sold with copied research.