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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 52

The poignant Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Lieutenant D. H. Munro, 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot, who was severely wounded during the famous Storming of the Sikandar Bagh and, despite clinging on to life for six months, finally succumbed to his wounds in May 1858

Indian Mutiny 1857-58, 1 clasp, Relief of Lucknow (Lieut. Dond H Munro, 53rd Regt.), nearly extremely fine

Donald Harvey Munro was born at Edinburgh on 27 August 1830, the son of William and Charlotte Munro. His father was Inspector General of Hospitals in India and his brother - also named William - was later Surgeon General. The young Munro however did not choose to join his father and brother in the medical field but was instead commissioned Ensign on 19 November 1847, with 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot.

Serving in Antigua with this Regiment, the next year he was transferred to the 53rd Regiment on 8 February 1850. Munro was advanced Lieutenant on 7 November 1853, a rank he still held on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

Lucknow and Sikandarbagh

A portion of the Regiment marched with Sir Colin Campbell's army to the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857. They advanced from the south of the City hugging the river and taking the La Martiniere school and approaching the walled garden of the Sikandarbagh, guarded by 2,000 picked mutineers.

Reaching the garden the British column attacked from three directions with the most famous being the 93rd Highlanders who breached the wall with a cannon. The 4th Native Infantry fought their way through a gate and the 53rd gained entrance through a window. Within the outnumbered British fought with astonishing ferocity, driving back, isolating and wiping out the entire garrison.

In breaching the courtyard Captain Walton of the Regiment was killed and Munro was seriously wounded during the action. He remained at Lucknow and died there on 10 May 1858, the Regimental memorial lists his name as one of those: 'who fell in action, or died from the effects of wounds and exposure in the performance of their duty during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58-59'; sold together with copied papers.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£320