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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 20

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, N.E. Frontier 1891 (1861 Rifleman Habtelal Thapa 44th Bl. Infy.), good very fine

Following a revolution in Manipur in September 1890, which resulted in the Maharaja being deposed by his brother (the self-appointed Commander-in-Chief or Senapati of the Manipur Army), the Chief Commissioner for Assam, with an escort of 400 Gurkhas from the 42nd and 44th Gurkha (Rifle) Regiments of Bengal Infantry, proceeded to Imphal towards the end of March 1891 for the purpose of settling the affairs of the State and arresting and deporting the Senapati. However, the arrival of the Commissioner and his Escort at Imphal was violently resisted and resulted in open hostilities forcing a withdrawal of the Commissioner and his Escort to the British Residency. Later the same evening, the Commissioner, the Escort Commander and another British officer were invited to a meeting in the former Maharaja's palace by the Senapati, where they were seized and barbarously put to death by the insurgents. The Residency was now under increasing attack and with ammunition running low, the Escort was forced to withdraw, in some disorder, in small parties. With the alarm raised, a force comprising three columns was formed, which included one from Kohima and another from Cachar, both of which had sizable contingents from the 44th. These two columns reached Imphal towards the end of April 1891, the enemy having offered little resistance. With the re-occupation of Imphal, the Manipur revolt was brought to an end and the leaders responsible for the murder of the Commissioner, the Escort Commander and another British officer were duly tried and executed.


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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£100