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Auction: 9024 - The Property of a Gentleman Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals
Lot: 732

A Scarce ´Central Africa 1891´ I.O.M Pair to Sepoy Lal Singh, 32nd Bengal Pioneers, For the Anti-Slaving Expedition Lead by Captain C. Maguire Against the Yao Chief Kawinga a) Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 1st type, 3rd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved in three lines ´3rd Class "Order of Merit", minor enamel damage, lacking top riband buckle b) Central Africa 1891-98, no clasp (2667 Sepoy Lal Singh 32nd Bl. Infy.), generally very fine or better (2) Estimate £ 2,400-2,800 I.O.M. No. 2667, Sepoy Lal Singh, 32nd Bengal Infantry (Pioneers) ´´For conspicuous gallantry in action on the Chikala Mountains, Central Africa, on 21st November 1891, in an expedition against Kawinga, an insurgent Yao Chief.´´ Commissioner H.H. Johnson had been tasked with the suppression of the slave trade in Central Africa during the 1890s. In an effort to aid him with his task 49 Sikhs from the 23rd and 32nd Bengal Pioneers together with 22 cavalrymen of the Hyderabad Lancers were seconded from the Indian Army for an attachment of three years for service in Central Africa. The force, which was originally commanded by Captain Cecil Maguire Hyderabad Lancers, arrived in June 1891and was immediately pressed into action in an expedition against the Yao slaver Chimkumbu. Maguire´´s men took part in another expedition in October against Makanjira, before setting out the following month against the Yao Chief Kawinga. The latter being for what Sepoy Singh was awarded the I.O.M. Kawinga was a notorious slave trader and powerful Yao Chief who lived on the north-west shore of Lake Shirwa. He commanded the slave route to the coast from this position. Maguire was dispatched with a force of 30 sepoys to contact Kawinga and persuade him to desist with slaving and take up agriculture instead. Enroute Maguire´´s men were attacked by a subsidiary headman´´s force, with both sides suffering casualties. Maguire raised the headman´´s village to the ground, sending a clear message to Kawinga. The latter repented and paid a fine of five ivory tusks. A short time after this action Maguire was killed in fighting against Mankanjira.

Sold for
£2,600