The First Burma War medal to Captain Hugh Kyd, 102nd Madras European Regiment, seriously wounded in Burma

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Captn. Hugh Kyd, Eur. Regt.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, good very fine £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Hugh Kyd was born on 13 May 1787 at Tullyish, Co. Down, and was nominated a Cadet for the Madras Infantry by the Parliamentary Board of Control. He arrived in India in 1805 and was posted to the 1st Madras European Regiment. He became Captain in 1818 while on furlough in England and returned to India in 1823.

During the First Burma War, Kyd sailed from Masulipatam with a detachment of his regiment on 14 April 1824, and took part in the expedition against Rangoon. In June he was seriously wounded during the operations against a strong stockade before Kemmedine, when ‘the grenadiers of the Madras Europeans, led by Captain Kyd, of the Corps, and supported by a native battalion, carried the place by storm, the men mounting upon one another’s shoulders.’

He was appointed Major of Brigade to the Light Brigade at Rangoon and was ‘Particularly praised by Lt-Col. Smith for the able assistance he afforded as Brigade Major at the unsuccessful affair of Smith’s detachment at Kykloo, and for the cool and steady courage he manifested in all times of difficulty.’ Kyd became Commandant of the 4th Extra Regiment, Madras N.I., on 6 January 1826, and was promoted Major in August 1829. He retired in 1836 as Lieutenant-Colonel.

Refs: IOL L/MIL/11/39; IOL L/AG/23/10/1-2; Neill’s “Blue Caps” (Wylly)..