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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 1

(x) The Seringapatam Medal awarded to Captain C. MacGregor, 33rd (or the First Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot

Honourable East India Company Medal for Seringapatam 1799, silver, 48mm, in fitted leather case, the inner silk lid inscribed in ink 'Lt. Cls. M'Grigor. Lieut. 33 Regt at Seringapatam 1799', good very fine

Charles MacGregor/Grigor was appointed Lieutenant in May 1795 in the 33rd (of the First Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment of Foot. In 1799 the regiment participated in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, with their former Commanding Officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Wesley) shortly afterward promoted to Colonel and changing his surname to the now ever-recognised Wellesley.

In addition to Seringapatam, the 33rd also shared in the action at Malavelly a little while before, of which M'Gregor's diary, which is quoted in the Regimental History, states:

'March 27th. Marched at 5 o’clock this morning about twelve miles to Mallavilly where, about 1 o’clock, we came up with Tippoo, who had pushed his army on some heights on our front. After forming on the left of the army, the 33rd Regiment with the five battalions under Colonel Wellesley were ordered to move forward by eschelon (sic) of battalions from the centre, 33rd in advance.

The enemy were at this time marching very regularly down in front of us, at about 300 yards they commenced a heavy fire of musketry but with little effect, we all [at ?] this time were ordered to charge and set off as fast as we could, at about 10 yards we halted and fired, but their cavalry seeing us not well formed tried to come round our flanks and were repulsed with great loss, our cavalry under General Floyd, who were formed in our rear…moved briskly on, did a great deal of execution, about 500 of enemy were killed and left wounded; 33rd had six men slightly wounded; a most fatiguing day.'

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480