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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 10

(x) A notable Indian Mutiny Medal to Private W. Vince, 60th Rifles, who was present at Meerut, where the Indian Mutiny began on 10 May 1857; caught unarmed during Church Parade, the 60th quickly reformed and drove the rebel sepoys from the town

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (W. Vince, 1st Bn. 60th Rifles), suspension post bent, edge wear, nearly very fine, fitted with an ornate top riband buckle

William Vince enlisted into the 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles on 30 June 1856. The Regimental Muster of 31 July 1857 confirms him as being 'at Meerut', where the 60th had been stationed since February. The Indian Mutiny started there on Sunday 10 May, when the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry murdered their European officers and dashed towards the un-garrisoned city of Delhi, hoping to win the ailing Mughal Emperor's support. With the exception of a few men on guard duty, most soldiers of the 60th Rifles were at Church Parade at the time, and completely unarmed. The 60th flew out of St. John's Church and grabbed their rifles, largely escaping the massacre which had been planned for them. Others were less fortunate; rebel sepoys attacked officers' bungalows and butchered several families. Bitter street fighting ensued as the 60th counter-attacked, regaining the town. As the rebels streamed towards Delhi they cut telegraph wires, preventing the 60th from sending news of the Mutiny.

Led by their implacable Colonel Jones (nicknamed 'the Avenger'), the 60th Rifles set out in pursuit, reaching a ridge overlooking Delhi (clasp) on 7 June. There they joined the besieging British force under Sir Archdale Wilson, which gradually swelled to 9,000 men. On 14 September, the British assaulted Delhi in five infantry columns. Companies of the 60th Rifles advanced in front of each column as skirmishers, and so Vince was in the thick of the action. The British suffered 1,170 casualties during the assault. Vince was invalided to Calcutta in November 1858. In 1861 he was invalided to England aboard the London, reaching Chatham on 16 May (see WO 12/6919); sold with copied Muster Rolls.

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Sold for
£380