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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 552

A fine Indian Mutiny C.B. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. 'Mac' MacKinnon, Bengal Horse Artillery, who commanded the guns of 2nd Troop, 3rd Brigade at the final siege and capture of Lucknow, prior to commanding the Bengal Artillery at assorted actions in the Oude under Sir Grant Hope

He had earlier distinguished himself in the First Sikh War - when he took command of his Troop at Ferozeshuhur following the death of his C.O. - and in Sir Colin Campbell's punitive expedition against hill tribes on the North-West Frontier in 1851-52

A lifetime friend of Lord Roberts, V.C., his name appears in numerous letters written by the great man, among them a happy reference to them at Lucknow in March 1858:

'MacKinnon is here. He sends his kind regards. When we do start, the Brigade Hamilton belongs to is, I think, sure of accompanying our Column, as also MacKinnon's troop, so we shall be together, which is very nice … '

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.), Military Division, Companion's breast badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1858, complete with swivel-ring suspension bar and riband buckle; Sutlej 1845-46, reverse Moodkee, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Lieut. W. A. MacKinnon, 1st Brigade, H.A.); Punjab 1848-49, no clasp (Lieut. W. A. MacKinnon, 3rd Tp. 1st Bde. Arty.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Cptn. & Bt. Major W. A. MacKinnon, 2nd Tp. 3rd Bde. Rl. H. Art.), contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine or better (4)


C.B. London Gazette 16 November 1858.

William Alexander 'Mac' MacKinnon was born in the parish of Strath on the Isle of Skye in April 1822, the son of Dr. Farquhar MacKinnon of Kyle-a-Kin. Educated privately, he was nominated for a cadetship in the Honourable East India Company by Sir Richard Jenkins, G.C.B., in January 1840 and entered Addiscombe in the following month. Passing out as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1841, he arrived in India in July of the following year and was posted to the Foot Artillery. He subsequently gained an appointment in the Bengal Horse Artillery.

Advanced to 1st Lieutenant in July 1845, MacKinnon saw active service in the First Sikh War 1845-46, when he was present at Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon (Medal & 2 clasps); at the battle of Ferozeshuhur, he assumed temporary command of his Troop following the death of Captain Todd.

Further active service followed in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, when he commanded for much of the time 3rd Troop, 1st Brigade and was present at a number of skirmishes and actions, including the capture of the forts of Runganungle, Kalallwalla and Moraree (Medal).

'Double charges of grape at point-blank range'

MacKinnon was next in action during Brigadier Sir Colin Campbell's punitive expedition against the Mohmands in April 1852. With two guns from 2nd Troop, 1st Brigade, he played a major part in facing off around 5,000 'matchlock men' and about 80 horsemen near Matta on the 15th. When the tribesmen appeared from the hills in fighting formation, Sir Colin sallied forth from Fort Shubkudder to confront them. Brigadier Brian Parritt's Red with Two Blue Stripes takes up the story:

'The Horse Artillery first fired several rounds, which caused the tribesmen to pause, then limbered up and escorted by the cavalry with swords drawn galloped round to the enemy rear. Lieutenant W. A. MacKinnon and Lieutenant C. H. Blunt then re-opened fire, again with excellent results. The tribesmen broke formation and slowly began to move back to the hills.

Darkness now began to fall so Campbell ordered the guns to limber up and withdraw to the forest. The Mohmands, however, now felt that their turn had come and hardly were the horses in the traces when they swarmed joyfully from behind their shelter and rushed forward with a yell. Immediately the guns were unlimbered and double charges of grape fired at point-blank range. The tribesmen went to cover. Slowly the guns pulled back, halting every 300 yards to unlimber, fire grape and then retire once more.

The losses on the British side were two killed and eight wounded and it is a classic example of artillery winning the day. Neither the infantry nor the cavalry played any part in stopping the Mohmands attack.'

But for his death in 1867, MacKinnon would have lived to receive the India General Service Medal 1854-95, clasp 'North-West Frontier'; he did however receive a special mention in Sir Colin's despatch, dated at Fort Shubkudder on 17 April 1852.

Next appointed Commandant of the 4th Company of Artillery, and Commissary of Ordnance of the Punjab Irregular Force, MacKinnon was granted home leave on medical grounds in January 1854. He returned to England on furlough until December 1857 and was confirmed in the rank of Captain in the latter year.

Mutiny C.B.

Recalled to India in consequence of the Indian Mutiny, he was initially assigned to Major Le Mesurier's battery as an interpreter.

In March 1858, however, he took command of 2nd Troop, 3rd Brigade of the Bengal Horse Artillery and first went into action on the Kala Nudee at the taking of Futtyghur; he was afterwards present in the final stages of the siege and capture of Lucknow.

He then accompanied the Column under Sir Grant Hope, K.C.B., throughout the operations in the Oude during the hot season of 1858 and was present at the affairs at Korsee, Baree and Sumree that May, in addition to commanding the Bengal Artillery at the battles of Nawab Gunge and Burra Bankee.

In July 1858, MacKinnon was appointed to the command of 3rd Company, 1st Brigade, Bengal Field Artillery and No. 17 Light Field Battery, in which capacity he finished the Mutiny serving in the Column under Sir George Baker, K.C.B.; he commanded the artillery in the action at Selimpoer in September of the same year.

Mentioned in despatches for Lucknow - and on numerous other occasions for his services in the Mutiny - he was given the Brevet of Major and appointed C.B.

MacKinnon's final appointment in India was as C.O. of 4th Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, medical grounds necessitating his return to England on furlough in late 1860. He was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1863 and died at Stirling in September 1867; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£8,000