Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 74

Three: Colour-Sergeant C. McDowell, 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot, a scarce group of three to a Warrant Officer of the 81st, who saw service at the Battle of Sittana

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (2386 Sergt. C MgDowell [sic], H.Ms. 81st Regt.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Northwest Frontier (2380 Sergt. C. Mc.Dowell, H.Ms., 81st, Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (2380. Cr. Sergt. Chas. McDorrell, 81st Foot), note surname spelling, some contact marks and light edge bruising, very fine (3)

Charles McDowell was born at Dunbar, Derry in 1828 and enlisted with the 81st Regiment at Belfast on 10 November 1848. The unit was at first stationed at Templemore, Ireland, still being there in 1851 but McDowell was soon posted to India, where he was to spend the next twelve years. Promoted Corporal on 1 June 1853 he was further advanced Sergeant on 23 September; the Regiment was to arrive in India in 1854.

Arriving at Lahore in 1857, shortly before the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut, the 81st Regiment found themselves surrounded by H.E.I.C. Battalions with few other Europeans to call upon. This tenuous position required decisive action and as soon as word reached them of an outbreak of mutiny they moved fast, a parade on the Meean Meer for inspection provided them with the opportunity to disarm most of the Sepoys. Immediately afterwards three companies tricked their way inside Lahore Fort and disarmed those guarding it as well, leaving them in control of the city.

As the British efforts to suppress the revolt got underway the Punjab began to stabilise with much of the fighting focused on Northern and Central India. This freed up units such as the 81st Regiment to help with the suppression of the rebels. They were transferred to the Sittana Field Force in February 1858 under Sir Sydney Cotton with orders to defeat a mixed force of local tribes and mutinous Sepoys who had risen from a garrison near Peshawar.

They saw heavy fighting here, first at Mangal Thana but later at Sittana itself. There Upper Sittana was taken and held by a column under Lieutenant-Colonel H. Renny of the 81st while the village itself was destroyed by the Sappers and Miners. With the rebels' main centres of power destroyed the British, their objectives on the frontier were completed and they returned to India. McDowell continued to serve in India with this unit, being stationed at Rawulpindee in 1861.

Promoted Colour-Sergeant on 24 December 1862, he held this rank until his discharge on 3 November 1869; sold together with typed research and copied research comprising medal rolls and service papers.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£580

Starting price
£210