Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-59 with 2 Clasps - RELIEF OF LUCKNOW & LUCKNOW and Silver Mounting Buckle - Awarded to Lieutenant John Hunter - 78th Highlanders

Here on offer is a genuine Indian Mutiny medal 1857-59 with 2 Clasps, the RELIEF OF LUCKNOW and LUCKNOW, that was awarded to Lieutenant John Hunter of the 78th Highlanders.

It also comes with a fine quality and possibly unique medal buckle/pin clasp in sterling silver. It was made by the famous and highly valued jewellers and silversmiths “Hunt & Roskell” of Bond Street, London, who for many years held the Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria.

The name Hunt & Roskell is stamped on the back of the top bar, as shown in my photos. I can only assume that Lieutenant John Hunter had this impressive clasp made by Hunt & Roskell, to compliment the silver medal and clasps and allow him to proudly wear the medal.

According to the official Indian Mutiny Medal Roll John Hunter served as a Lieutenant with the 78th Highlanders and was awarded the medal along with 2 clasps being the RELIEF OF LUCKNOW and LUCKNOW. In the remarks it states he later became a Captain in the 17th Foot.

The circular medal and swivel mount are made of sterling silver, as are the 2 clasps that surmount it.

The obverse was designed by William Wyon, (the chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828) and displays a portrait of Queen Victoria and is inscribed:

'VICTORIA REGINA'

The reverse is designed by William Wyon’s son, Leonard Charles Wyon and displays the figure of Britannia bestowing victor's laurels, with the British lion and is inscribed:

'INDIA' above and '1857-1858' below.

The edge is inscribed:

‘LIEUT. J. HUNTER. 78TH HIGHLANDERS’

It is suspended on its original red and white striped ribbon, that represents blood and white bandages.

It is fitted with 2 original silver clasps that are:

RELIEF OF LUCKNOW

and LUCKNOW.
The LUCKNOW clasp was awarded to those who served under Sir Colin Campbell in the operations to capture Lucknow and quell the surrounding unrest from November 1857 to March 1858.

A total of 5 clasps were authorised for use with the Indian Mutiny Medal, that are:

DELHI, DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW, RELIEF OF LUCKNOW, LUCKNOW, and CENTRAL INDIA.

The greatest number of clasps awarded to a single recipient was 4 (Bengal Artillery) and then 3 (imperial troops, 9th Lancers).

The medal could also be awarded without a clasp.

Some history regarding the Indian Mutiny and the 78th Highlanders.
The Indian Mutiny Medal 1857–59 was authorised and issued in 1859 to all troops engaged against the mutineers during the Great Sepoy Mutiny which had been the immediate cause of the uprising, although it also served to focus attention on the Honourable East India Company's conduct of affairs and led directly to the transfer of the administration of India to the Crown.

The 78th Highlanders Regiment of Foot was a Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line, raised in 1793. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with 72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders to form the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders in 1881.

The 78th Highlanders was part of the failed “First Relief” of the Siege of Lucknow, they would end up being forced to join the siege becoming the “Second Defenders”.

The 78th Highlanders would win 8 Victoria Crosses for their bravery during the Indian Mutiny, and were hailed as “The Saviour of British India”, as well as being feted for its conduct at Lucknow where they strongly defended the residency until the final relief.

The Relief Force was headed by Brigadier James Neill and Colonel Hamilton, of the 78th Highlanders.

“The force met heavy resistance trying to cross the Charbagh Canal, but succeeded after nine out of ten men of a forlorn hope were killed storming a bridge. They then turned to their right, following the west bank of the canal. The 78th Highlanders took a wrong turning, but were able to capture a rebel battery near the Qaisarbagh palace, before finding their way back to the main force. After further heavy fighting, by nightfall the force had reached the Machchhi Bhawan. Outram proposed to halt and contact the defenders of the Residency by tunnelling and mining through the intervening buildings, but Havelock insisted on an immediate advance. (He feared that the defenders of the Residency were so weakened that they might still be overwhelmed by a last-minute rebel attack.) The advance was made through heavily defended narrow lanes. Brigadier Neill was one of those killed by rebel musket fire. In all, the relief force lost 535 men out of 2000, incurred mainly in this last rush.

By the time of the relief, the defenders of the Residency had endured a siege of 87 days, and were reduced to 982 fighting personnel.”

Lord Tennyson in his poem “The Defence of Lucknow” refers to the 78th as “Havelock’s Glorious Highlanders”

The medal itself in in great condition with a clean polished finish with some light surface scratches. The only damage I can see is just an edge bruise/dink on the reverse, at the 3 O’clock position. The ribbon looks to be the original and shows some light staining.
The medal measures 1.4” (3.6cm) diameter and weighs 48g with the clasps.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Thanks for taking the time to look.

Code: 51944