Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (M. Durant, A.B., In. Nl. Bde. H.M.P.V. Calcutta) better than good very fine and rare £600-800

Able Seaman Moses Durant, who is believed to have been born in Canada, served in No. 3 Brigade of the Indian Naval Brigade, being borne on the books of H.M. Pendant Vessel Calcutta (Douglas-Morris refers). The same source states of this brigade’s part in the Mutiny:

‘Senior Lieutenant H. Batt took command of this group in late July 1857 embarking in the Jumna, a small river steamer, for the passage up the Ganges to forestall entry by the mutineers into Goruckpore District. Later, whilst steaming up river towards Cawnpore members of this force saw fierce action against the rebels, and upon return to Allahabad met up with Captain Peel, who attached Batt’s party to his Naval Brigade “intending to take us up to Lucknow, but the Government would not sanction it, and we were ordered down to Buxar.” His Brigade remained at Buxar, often in contact with the mutineers as artillerymen and skirmishers, until beyond October 1858 when Commander Batt (promoted 21 August 1858) resigned his command. The men forming this detachment came from the Indian Navy ships Auckland and Zenobia (Vide: Low, pp. 480-485 which includes details of the award of the Victoria Cross to Acting Master G. B. Chicken, Indian Navy).’