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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 45

'Crack! Went a pistol shot behind me; my third opponent toppled off his horse in a heap, and I quickly dismounted and released Browne's foot and helped him to mount. It was the squadron trumpeter who had fired the timely shot and if I did anything to help Browne out of his difficulty, Trumpeter McCaffrey certainly saved me.'

(Private Rowland Dance, 6th Carabiniers reminiscences on the moment Trumpeter McCaffrey saved his life during the Indian Mutiny in the Port Sunlight Monthly Journal)

An interesting campaign group of three awarded to Trumpet Major W. McCaffrey, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers), an American-born soldier in Queen Victoria's Army who doubtless saw the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (P[..] Wm. McCaffrey, 6th Dn. Gds), engraved naming, the rank obscured by edge wear; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Trumpr. Wm. McCaffrey, 6th Dragn. Gds.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, this plugged at 12 o’clock, fitted with ‘British Crimea’ style suspension, edge wear and contact marks, good fine (3)

223 'Delhi' Clasps issued to the 6th Dragoon Guards.

William McCaffrey was born in America in 1839 and attested for the 6th Dragoon Guards at Dublin on 13 March 1854 with the rank of Private. Serving in the Crimea and Turkey for 312 days he earned entitlement to the Sebastopol clasp and was appointed Trumpeter at the end of the war on 31 July 1856.

Posted on to India with his unit McCaffrey was still there on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny. The 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) one of the units stationed at Meerut oat the flashpoint of the Mutiny. At least one of them was killed in the opening bloodbath having ventured alone into the market, he was cornered and torn apart by a mob.

After the mutineers marched on Delhi, they were one of the units which marched north under General Anson, laying Siege to the City. They were engaged repeatedly there, combating sallies and attempting to intercept mutineers who marched to the city from garrisons across Bengal.

Afterwards they reformed and were provided with drafts of replacements to cover the losses at Delhi before continuing to campaign. Despite aiming to take part in the relief of Lucknow the Regiment arrived too late to take part in the action and instead formed one of the many columns pursuing rebel forces across Northern India.

They engaged a force at Nugeenah on 23 April 1858 during which McCaffrey's Squadron charged a large body of enemy cavalry. It was here that he saved Private Dance's life whilst he freed their fallen Sergeant's foot from his stirrup. Dance notes he was promoted to the rank of Corporal for the action, McCaffrey does not appear to have won such a distinction but did receive Good Conduct Pay in March 1860.

McCaffrey attained the rank of Sergeant-Major on 14 May 1873 and continued to serve with the 6th Dragoon Guards. He was discharged at Canterbury on 13 March 1878; sold together with copied discharge papers.

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Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400