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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 125

(x) Family Group

Pair: Sergeant W. Austin, 60th Regiment of Foot, the only European Regiment present at Meerut when the Indian Mutiny began there in 1857

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Corpl. W. Austin. 1st Bn. 60th Rifles.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (5158. Srjt. W. Austin. 1st Batn. 60th Regt.), very fine (2)

Royal Military Asylum Good Conduct Medal (E. W. Austin), silver, light contact wear, very fine

William Austin was born at Aylesford, Maidstone, Kent and attested with the 17th Regiment of Foot on 29 March 1838 in Rochester. He was posted to India in 1841 rated as a Bugler and transferred to the 1st Battalion, 60th Regiment on 1 October 1848 upon hearing rumours that his original Regiment was to return to Britain.

They were the only European Regiment in Meerut when the Mutiny began in the Sepoy lines there on 11 May 1857. As Austin's medal has no Delhi clasp it is likely he either remained in Meerut or was part of Brigadier Archdale Wilson's wing which followed the Mutineers and engaged them at Ghazi-ud-din Nagar.

Austin transferred to the 6th Bengal European Regiment on 1 March 1860, he was married the same year at St. Peter's Church, Fort William. Transferring back to Britain he joined the 1st Battalion, 6th (Warwickshire) Regiment on 1 June 1861. Advanced Corporal on 20 August 1862, he requested retirement in 1863.

Edward William Austin was born at Weymouth in 1869 and entered the Royal Military Asylum on 17 October 1879. He was named 'The Best Boy in all Respects' in July 1885 in a parade attended by the Duke of Cambridge, Field-Marshal Sir Patrick Grant and Lieutenant-Generals Sir Archibald Alison and Sir A. Herbert. The event was covered by several London newspapers which stated of the prizes:

'The prizes, consisted of desks, telescopes, boxes of drawing instruments, cricket bats, &c., were then presented, by the Commander-in-Chief accompanying the various gifts by a kindly word or two to the recipients. The winner of the prize for "best boy in all respects" in the school was E.W. Austin.'

The Royal Military Asylum was founded in 1801 by Frederick, Duke of York. It was founded in the midst of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars to house the orphan or destitute children of fallen soldiers. Modelled on the Royal Hibernian Military School, the Asylum at Chelsea received its Royal Charter in 1801 and took in the first children in 1803. Initially admitting boys and girls, it was ahead of its time in providing an education for working class children. By the 1850's, it had instigated a program of training preparing students for service as Sergeant Schoolmasters in the Army. In 1892 the Royal Military Asylum was renamed the Duke of York's Royal Military School and in 1909 the school moved to new premises on the Downs of Dover.

Austin went on to join his father's Regiment the 60th Regiment of Foot, later the King's Royal Rifle Corps but died of pneumonia at Peshawar in 1894; sold together with copied service papers.

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

Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240