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

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (W. Lancaster, 32nd L.I.) good very fine £1200-1500

Private William Lancaster, 32nd Light Infantry, an original defender of the garrison at Lucknow, was killed in action on 6 July 1857.

It was a fairly normal day in Lucknow, nothing too dramatic, as described by one diarist: ‘The usual amount of musketry and cannon fire all the morning: about 2 o’clock in the afternoon it became very severe, especially towards the Baillie Guard, which seemed the favourite point to-day for the heaviest fire. A heavy cannonade heard about three miles off for about half an hour. About 4 P.M. the flashes of the guns were distinctly seen. The cause was unknown. The enemy digging trenches in all directions. The carriage of one of our 9-pounders was disabled by the enemy’.