The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

The Indian Mutiny medal to Lieutenant J. H. Worsley, 71st Native Infantry, who served with the Volunteer Cavalry at Chunhut and throughout the siege of Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (Lieut. J. H. Worsley) nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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James Henry Worsley, the son of Francis Worsley of Birchfield, was baptised on 7 July 1834, at Arreton on the Isle of Wight. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, at Mr Duncan’s in Southampton, and under one Charles Howard in St John’s Wood. He was nominated for a Cadetship in the Bengal Infantry by William Butterworth Bayley, Esq., on the recommendation of William Henry Whitbread, Esq. He embarked for Bengal in the Devonshire on 7 July 1854 and landed at Calcutta on 12 November. Posted Ensign on his way out, he was appointed to do duty with the 11th Bengal N.I. in December prior to joining the 71st N.I. at Lucknow. The 71st mutinied on the evening of 30 May 1857, and in early June Worsley and about thirty others, including native officers, civilians, and at least one private soldier belonging to the 32nd Light Infantry, were formed into a body of Volunteer Cavalry on the orders of Sir Henry Lawrence.

Worsley took part in the action at Chinhut on 30 June, where the Volunteer Cavalry distinguished themselves by driving some 500 rebel horse from the Kokrail bridge thus securing the line of retreat, and also by carrying in many of the wounded on their horses. One of the original defenders in the epic of the Lucknow Residency, Worsley according to his statement of ‘Services in the Field’, commanded ‘an out-post’ for part of the time. He was mentioned in Inglis’s despatch of 26 September 1857 and subsequently received the thanks of the Governor-General in General Orders on 8 December 1857. Following the Second Relief of Lucknow he took part in the victory over the Gwalior rebels at Cawnpore on 6 December, in the action at Khodagunge, and in the re-occupation of Fatehgar. In April 1858 he was appointed Baggage Master to Brigadier Walpole’s force, and, in March, he served under Hope Grant (Ritchie 1-110) in the storm and capture of Lucknow, and in the affairs at Baree and Nugger.

In June he joined the Oudh Military Police and on 9 September became District Adjutant, prior to being appointed Divisional Adjutant on the 18th following. The next month, he commanded the 7th Police Infantry at the relief of Semdulah and in the action at Jhumoo under Brigadier Barker, and was subsequently mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 31 January 1859). Promoted District Commandant in January 1859, he continued to hunt down the last of the rebels in Oudh, taking part in operations under Brigadier Evelegh, and being present at the action of Poorwah, the capture Sunree, the actions of Beerah and Dhoondeah Kherea, the capture of Oomerah and Trans-Gogra.

In January 1861, he was appointed to do duty with H.M’s 20th Regiment and to officiate as Interpreter. In April 1862 he was made Assistant Superintendent, Bengal Police, and took part in quelling the disturbances in the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills. He was granted furlough on sick certificate for fifteen months, and embarked for England at Bombay aboard the Nemesis on 16 July 1864. He died en route for home and was buried in Steamer Point Burial Ground, Aden.

Refs: IOL L/MIL/10/77; IOL L/MIL/9/232; IOL L/MIL/10/59/, 61, 63 & 65; IOL L/MIL/17/2/369; IOL N/3/38.