Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Cornet C. A. Copland, Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, who was twice mentioned for gallantry by Colonel Rowcroft while attached to the Sarun Field Force, on one occasion single-handedly killing 3 mutineers during the charge at Almorah

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Cornet Chas. Copland, Bengal Yeo. Cavy.) fitted with engraved silver ribbon brooch, toned, good very fine and scarce £900-£1,200

Charles Albert Copland was born in Dublin on 18 May 1840, son of Charles Copland, Manager and later General Manager of the Bank of Ireland, and his wife Euphemia. Charles senior had been born in Jamaica where his father owned a sugar plantation, and had later been manager of the Bank of Ireland from its commencement.

Copland received a classical and mathematical education and was nominated a Cadet for the East India Company's Bengal Infantry season 1856-57, passing out from Addiscombe on 17 March 1857. He travelled by the overland route, arriving at Calcutta on 15 May 1857, five days after the outbreak of the mutiny at Meerut. He was commissioned Ensign and ordered to do duty with the 30th Bengal Native Infantry by General Order, 22 July 1857.

Calcutta being in a state of frenzy after the news of the mutiny at Meerut rumours were rampant among the citizenry regarding the possibility of a similar rising in Calcutta. In these conditions of anxiety, nervous tension and fearful expectations the Government, under Lord Canning, raised a body of cavalry, some 250 in number to be called the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry. They were formed and led by Colonel J. F. Richardson C.B., a hero of Mooltan in 1848 where he was wounded no fewer than 17 times.

The Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry fought 17 actions during the campaign with ferocity and daring. Their cavalry charges against overwhelming superior forces were legendary and it is therefore unsurprising that the mutineers gave them the soubriquet “Shaitan-i-Pultan”, the “Devil's” or “Satan's Regiment”.

Although promoted to Lieutenant on 3 November 1858, with 30th Bengal Native Infantry, Copland had actually been doing duty with the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry since March 1858, with the rank of Cornet, being attached to the 2nd Troop in the Sarun Field Force, under Colonel (later Brigadier, C.B.) Rowcroft, serving until the end of the Trans-Gogra campaign. Copland is shown in the Quarterly Bengal Army List of August 1859 as still doing duty with the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry. He was twice specially mentioned in dispatches for his gallantry by Colonel Rowcroft:


Colonel Rowcroft to Colonel R. J. H. Birch, C.B., Camp Amorah, 6 March 1858.
‘….I detached a party of 20 troopers to the rear of the naval guns to cover and protect them, and this party, under acting Cornets Copland and Prinsep, by their gallant and excellent service aided in capturing some of the guns...’

Colonel Rowcroft to Colonel R. J. H. Birch, C.B., Governor-General Allahabad. Camp Amorah 19 April 1858.
‘...After giving them 4 rounds of shell, I ordered Major Richardson, in command of the 2nd troop right Squadron Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, with my portion of the force to move from my right flank and charge this body of the enemy. The 2nd troop under its gallant leader, made a noble charge, and although they came upon a larger body of the enemy behind a village, and the sepoys made a desperate resistance, nothing stopped this brave cavalry, and they cut down and killed fully sixty of the rebels and captured a 6-pounder gun with limber and the enemy was completely dispersed... My best thanks are specially due to the officers and men of the 2nd troop Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry and to their gallant leader Major Richardson, who, himself killed 6 of the enemy, Supernumerary Cornet Copland killed three, Cornet and Quartermaster Kloer killed three, Cornet Scott killed several...’

Lieutenant Copland is shown as serving with the 3rd Sikh Irregular Cavalry in January 1859, and with the Lahore Light Horse in January of 1861. He died of cholera at Barrackpore, India on 19 of June 1862, being then described as 'Lieutenant, Lahore Light Horse'. He was twenty-two years old. He died intestate and, as was tradition, all his goods and chattels were sold at public auction. Messrs Cook and Dhurrumtulla sold his horses and two buggies, although one horse named ‘Lord of the Isles’ was sold privately for Rupees 1,600. Over 350 other items from sleeping drawers, to a life preserver, dog collars and a smoking cap were all sold.