MUTINY RECALLED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 1

MUTINY RECALLED

This handsome Indian Mutiny Medal with Lucknow bar—a medal now become a rarity with collectors—has been acquired by a Christchurch military collector, Mr M. Mason. It is inscribed as having been awarded to Colour-Sergeant Thomas Gilchrist, of the 79th (Cameron) Highlanders. The Indian Mutiny Medal was awarded to British troops who served in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, and was issued with the various bars “Delhi,” “Defence of Lucknow,” “Relief of Lucknow,” and (as above) “Lucknow.”

The latter bar indicates that the recipient was engaged in the operations against Lucknow under the immediate command of

General Sir Colin Campbell in November, 1857, and March, 1858. The Indian Mutiny, one of the bitterest campaigns ever fought by British troops, broke out at Meerut on May 10, 1857. Lucknow, invested by the rebels on July 1, was under siege for 87 days until the first relief on September 25 by a column under Major-General Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram, which column was in turn besieged there until the second relief by forces under Sir Colin Campbell on November 17, 1857, when 'the city, was evacuated,

Lucknow was not retaken by the British forces until the week March 1421, 1858.