Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 138

Four: Farrier-Major M. Cummings, 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars)

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Pte. Michl. Cummings 8th Husrs.), contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Ml. Cummings, 8th Hussars); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1386. F. Maj: M. Cumming, 8th Hussrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, contemporary tailor’s copy by ‘J.B.’ (...Cummins 8th Huss), suspension re-fixed on the first two, the Crimean awards with edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine, the L.S. & G.C. very fine (4)

Michael Thomas Cummings was born in Clerkenwell, London, and enlisted for the 8th Hussars at Westminster on 10 August 1854, aged 17. He joined the regiment in the Crimea on 24 July 1855, having left the Newbridge Cavalry Depot on the 18th of June. He is shown as one of the seventy other ranks who, under Captain James Naylor and two subalterns, were sent on 29 October 1855 to form the escort to General Simpson and to find all the orderlies for the various Divisions. This escort replaced that under Captain Chetwode, which had been escort to Lord Raglan, but had rejoined the regiment after the latter's death.

Cummings embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain in October 1857. He was promoted to Farrier, ranking as Sergeant in November 1861, and to Farrier-Major, on the Staff of the Regiment, in October 1862. Having returned to England aboard the St Lawrence in January 1864, he was in confinement from 23-25 August, and tried by a Regimental Court-martial on 26 August 1864, being reduced to Private and imprisoned in cells till 6 October 1864.

He was reinstated as Farrier in May 1865, and re-engaged for 12 years' further service at Birmingham on 21 March 1867. Promoted to Farrier-Major in January 1875, he was discharged from Aldershot on 14 November 1876, ‘at his own request, free to pension
after 21 years service.’ He was then aged 38 and had served in Turkey and the Crimea for 9 months, and in India for 7 years. Unusually, having been tried by Court Martial, he had been awarded to L.S. & G.C. Medal, without gratuity, in November 1875.

His discharge papers noted that, ‘His character has been very good, and he was when promoted in possession of four good conduct badges and would, had he not been promoted now be in possession of four good conduct badges. He is in possession of the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, the Turkish medal and the Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India, also the Good Conduct medal. His name appears six times in the Regimental Defaulters' book. He has been once tried by Regimental Court-martial.’

From August 1877-July 1884 a man of this man was employed as a Shoeing Smith at Petworth House, living at No. 328M Percy Row, the estate cottages. That same man was arrested for attempted suicide in July 1884, when he stated '...his mind was very troubled and had been for some years.'

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

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£400

Sale 24002 Notices
Now also accompanied with a fine presentation pipe smoked by the recipient, with silver inscription upon it, in fitted leather case.