Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Surgeon-Major W. Pitt, Indian Medical Service, an ‘Original Defender’ at Lucknow

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Asst. Surgn., Attd. to 40th Foot); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Surgn., 13th Bengal N.I.) minor contact marks, very fine (2) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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William Pitt was born in September 1816. Gaining the M.R.C.S. in 1838, he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon on 24 January 1839. After service in the Burma War of 1852-53, where he was present at the capture of Rangoon, he was promoted to Surgeon on 13 February 1853. Surgeon Pitt found himself at Lucknow when part of his unit, the 13th Bengal Native Infantry, mutinied on 30 May 1857. He served as a Surgeon to the trapped garrison and citizens of Lucknow throughout the siege. In the aftermath, on 1 February 1859, he was promoted to Surgeon-Major. He retired on 22 September 1859 and died in London on 27 October 1887.