Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding original ‘Defence of Lucknow’ medal awarded to Major Sir John Henry Townsend-Farquhar, 5th Baronet of Mauritius, 7th Bengal Light Cavalry, who was severely wounded by a musket ball to his jaw while serving with the Volunteer Cavalry at Chinhut. In letters home he relates that upon examination by surgeons no trace of the ball could be found and it was feared it had entered his head; it was only after the ball passed ‘per anum’ that he remarked that he must have had a very good digestion

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Lt. J. H. T. Farquhar, 7th Bengal Lt. Cavy.) small marks overall, dark toned and a little polished, otherwise nearly very fine £3,000-£4,000

John Henry Townsend-Farquhar was born on 2 August 1839, at Goldings, Bengeo, Herts, the son of Sir Walter Minto, 2nd Baronet of Mauritius and his wife Erica Catherine née Mackay.
Sir Robert Farquhar, the first Commander and Governor of Mauritius, was granted the dignity of Baronet on 27 July 1821, after an illustrious career in the East India Company, being Lieutenant-Governor of Prince of Wales Island (Penang). He took the additional name of Townsend to place before Farquhar on 19 July 1824. The Baronetcy fell into disuse after the death of the 6th Baronet Sir Robert Townsend-Farquhar in 1924.

Services in the Field:
Was present at the Battle of Chinhut, 10 June 57, severely wounded, and was present throughout the siege of Lucknow 1857 (Medal and Clasp).

Nature of Employment during service:
Nominated by Martin Tucker Smith, M.P. 8 October 1856; Educated: Mr Howard, St. John's Wood in Mathematics and the Classics and Westminster College; Commissioned Cornet 4 November 1856; overland route to India arriving 17 December 1856; appointed to do duty 2nd Light Cavalry, 12 January 1857; posted to 7th Light Cavalry at Lucknow, 23 January 1857, and promoted Lieutenant on the same date; promoted Captain, 1 January 1862; passed Hindustani, 24 October 1862; appointed to officiate as duty officer Stud Department, 24 October 1862; duty officer Stud Department, 30 November 1863; to officiate as sub-assistant Stud Department, 10 February 1869; Furlough 6 May 1869; appointed to officiate as 2nd class assistant Stud Department, 4 July 1869; sub-assistant Stud Department, 2 December 1870; to officiate as 2nd class assistant Stud Department, 2 December 1870; succeeded to Baronetcy, 10 June 1872; Brevet Major, January 1874 on half pay.

Two months after the debacle of Chinhut, Farquhar had recovered sufficienly to write several letters home to his parents totalling 39 pages. Dated between 1st September and 10th December 1857, these letters were privately published exclusively for friends and family under the title, Private Copy of Letters received Thursday 28th of January from Lieutenant John Farquhar 7th B. L. Cavalry.

The letters open with his personal ordeals at Chinhut and recovery and is paraphrased with with additions from L. E. Ruutz Rees' “Siege of Lucknow” and Dr. Greenhow “Notes: Medical and Surgical taken during the late Siege of Lucknow”.

‘We marched to Chinhut 30th June '57 some 500 in number. In the distance we could see about 3,000 of the enemy. A howitzer was brought up and began firing immediately. They returned fire with great accuracy with their nine pounders. We brave volunteers had to ride about and do our best to keep out of range of the enemy's shot. Captain McLean of the 71st N.I. who was riding two from me had his horse's leg shot off immediately and was later killed by round shot. Directly afterwards the horse of Lieut. Sewell, who was in front of me, was shot dead. At this time I received a wound through my jaw. I was giddy for several minutes but managed to stick on my horse and went to find our commanding officer, Captain Radcliffe, who ordered me to go find the doctor, which I did; but found that the doolie bearers had fled the battle and taken the surgeons instruments. By this time we were getting a regular good licking and soon a retreat commenced. Fearing that my horse may be shot I luckily had the strength left to reach the Residency. Our Native Artillery behaved most shamefully, playing regularly into the hands of the enemy.

When I got to the European Hospital I found Dr. Boyd of the 32nd and Dr. Feyrer ready to attend on me. They put me through a great deal of pain in probing the wound and removing pieces of the fractured jaw; but they could not make out what had become of the ball, and I was none the wiser. The doctors believed at first that it was all up for me, thinking that the bullet had lodged in my head. Ten days afterwards, however, I discovered that I had swallowed and digested it; my digestion must have been good at the time! The ball must have been spent as on going through my jaw must have taken the direction of my throat and I must have swallowed it together with all the blood in my mouth. Dr. Greenhow noted “Bullet-wound of mouth breaking jaw, ball swallowed and after three weeks passed per anum.”

My wound at first was very painful, living on arrow-root as I was so weak. I was getting along swimmingly when I was taken by a fever which made me so weak I could hardly walk a yard... There have been several attacks been made since the siege began and if I feel strong enough I take a musket and pop at the insurgents through the loop holes cut in the Brigade Square. I could never make out if I hit anybody, however I think I must have polished off two or three of them.

His subsequent letters deal with the insurrections within the various Lucknow cantonments at the commencement of the mutiny with descriptions of the deaths of many of his fellow officers and the gradual disaffection of his men. His anger at the loss of his cantonment house and personal belongings is only mollified by the honesty of his personal servant. Of Captain Radcliffe, who was killed at the Baillie Guard, he evinces that he was one of the finest fellows he had ever known. The killing of the officers of the 48th N.I. from which only two survived is covered in detail. He describes his daily life and his wishes that all at home keep well. He thanks Providence that he remains safe hoping that God willing they will all meet again.

Perhaps his most poignant words are in relation to the strength of the 7th Bengal Light Cavalry at the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857. Out of a force of 17 officers and senior N.C.O's 12 had been killed and 2 severely wounded, Farquhar and Boileau: ‘I now command the 7th B. L. Cavalry, composed as it now is, of 7 Troopers, 4 Horses, 3 Syces, a Grasscutter, a Native Doctor, and a Dresser.

Brevet Major J. H. Townsend-Farquhar took up the Baronetcy on return to England and died at Blackland's House, Chelsea, a private lunatic asylum, on 14 August 1877.

Sold with copied research including his privately printed letters and extracts from other publications.