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

The Indian Mutiny medal to John Forrester, Uncovenanted Civil Service, who was wounded during the siege whilst acting as Deputy Head Clerk at the Lucknow Residency

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (John Forrester) very fine £1500-2000

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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John Forrester was a member of the Uncovenanted Civil Service, that is to say he was appointed in India and was not governed by a covenant with the Secretary of State, unlike the Haileybury educated ‘Gentlemen of the Civil Service’. It was originally intended that Indians should fill uncovenanted posts, but in Victorian times many were held by Europeans and men of mixed blood. Forrester was Deputy Head Clerk at the Lucknow Residency under Sir William ‘Thuggee’ Sleeman and his successor Sir Henry Lawrence. It is recorded that he was wounded during the defence of the Residency.

Ref: IOL L/F/10/70; IOL L/MIL/17/2/306 p. 996.