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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 26

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieut. Alex. Macleod, 1st Cavy.), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, very fine, with silver brooch

4 'Ava' clasps to the unit, of approximately 11 to the Cavalry.

Provenance:
Christie's, July 1987.

Alexander MacLeod was born at Kilfinian, Argyll in September 1804 and was educated at Edinburgh High School and afterwards at its University. He entered the East India Company, joining the 1st Madras Cavalry as Cornet in February 1821 and was confirmed Lieutenant in May 1824, at which rank he served during the Ava campaign. Between 1826-33, MacLeod served variously as Riding-Master, Interpreter and Adjutant of the 5th Madras Cavalry. Made Captain in the 6th Light Cavalry in May 1835, he also acted as Military Secretary to the Commissioner in Mysore. He next saw action - and distinguished himself - during the 1836 Burma Campaign in Canara, receiving the thanks of the Governor of Madras:

'That Captain MacLeod with The Hon. Mr Dumerque with a party of Irregular Horse were of essential service in clearing that part of the district which borders on Nugger of the insurgents who had invaded it, preventing the extension of disaffection.'

Made Lieutenant-Colonel by 1859, he retired as Major-General in December 1861, with no evidence of having been in receipt of other medals. MacLeod, who had married at Bangalore in March 1843, died at Rothesay on 8 July 1876. Four years previously, in 1872 he had published the book 'On India' containing a history and personal reflections of the Indian Mutiny; the origins of the Indian Army; and its Irregular Forces. A modern reprint of the work is included in this Lot.

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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000

Starting price
£1400