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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 58

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel M. Curry, 81st Regiment, who achieved the rare accolade of a Commission from the ranks and who also took an M.S.M.

Indian Mutiny 1857-58, no clasp (Lieut Michl, Curry. H.M. 81st Regt.), light contact marks, otherwise very fine

Michael Curry was born at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh on 31 July 1821. He enlisted into the 81st Regiment on 1 September 1838 and was promoted to Corporal on 15 July 1841 and to Sergeant on 18 January 1843. His regiment was deployed to Canada on 12 July 1843 and returned to Plymouth on 28 September 1847. Curry was further promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant on 15 June 1853 and embarked on the transport Wellesley which departed on 1 July 1853 for India. At the start of the Indian Mutiny the Lahore Station commander Brigadier Corbett had received intelligence that four native regiments were planning to mutiny. The 81st Regiment were the only British infantry Regiment located at Lahore which also had two European horse-artillery troops, the entire European strength was just 600 men. The 81st were alerted by telegraph and a plan was set in motion to disarm and detain 2700 Indian soldiers. Early on the 13 May 1857, the 16th, 26th, and 49th Native Regiments along with the 8th Bengal Cavalry were formed up on the parade ground, carefully arranged they were strategically positioned with the artillery and the 81st Regiment placed around them. The order was called out to "ground arms" whilst the native soldiers looked confused, the European troops had turned inwards ready to fire. The Indian soldiers realising that if they disobeyed they would all be killed or blown away complied with the order to lay down their weapons. All four Indian regiments were successfully disarmed in just five minutes.

The 81st Regiment is noted in the Regimental history as having guarded, marched and skirmished across the region until the end of 1857. The Chief Commissioner of the Punjab commented on their service:

'During the whole period of the crisis, the constancy, endurance and good discipline evinced by Her Majesty's Eighty-first regiment, were highly honourable to both officers and men'.

Curry was promoted to Ensign on 2 February 1858 and on 24 September 1858 became Adjutant a position he held until 1 February 1870. He served with the Ensoofzee expedition in 1858 and is further entitled to an India General Service Medal 1854-95 with clasp North West Frontier and he remained in India until April 1865. He was promoted Lieutenant on 24 September 1864 and was made Captain (unattached) on 19 February 1870 and became a Captain with the 3rd West York Light Infantry on 15 April 1871. He received the rank of Staff Captain commanding Detachments and Pensioners in the Isle of Man London Gazette 16 April 1878; Major in June 1881 and Lieutenant Colonel in July 1881. Curry died in Ireland on 15 January 1908. He is further entitled to a Meritorious Service Medal.

Sold together with detailed research and copied service papers.

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Estimate
£240 to £280

Starting price
£200