The Indian Mutiny medal to Captain James Alexander, Bengal Artillery, wounded during the defence of the Residency at Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (Lieut. I Alexander, Bengal Arty.) nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

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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Ex Tamplin Collection, Sotheby, February 1985.

James Alexander, the son of General Sir James Alexander (see Lot 22) and Maria, only daughter of Peter Bartholomew Long, was born at Dum Dum on 28 February 1833. He was eductated by J. J. Barton at Portland Place, Brighton, and at the H.E.I.C. College, Addiscombe, having been nominated for the Bengal Service by the Hon. W. H. L. Melville at the recommendation of his father. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery on 9 December 1852 and proceeded overland to India on 20 February 1853. He reported his arrival at Fort William on 2 April and in May was posted to the Foot Artillery.

In the defence of the Lucknow Residency, Alexander commanded the guns between the Redan and Banqueting Hall, which, having been turned into a hospital, was to see a good deal of his fellow Artillery officers. The History of the Bengal Artillery records: ‘On the 8th [September] Captain A. P. Simons [qv], who had long been laid up from the effect of the wounds he had received at Chinhat, died. He was a good and strictly conscientous officer. The only unwounded Artillery officer was Lieutenant Thomas [besides whom] ... There were only two now fit for duty, the two Alexanders. Lieutenant D. C. Alexander was severely burnt on the 17th of July by the premature explosion of a mortar charge; Lieutenant E. P. Lewin had been killed on the 15th July in the Cawnpore Battery while reconnoitring; Lieutenant J. H. Bryce, wounded on the 16th of July, died of cholera on the 18th of August; Lieutenant J. Alexander had been shot through the arm while laying an 18-pounder in the Hospital battery; Lieutenant D. McFarlan as before mentioned on the 20th of July; Lieutenant F. J. Cunliffe had been wounded in the knee by a musket ball; it was not at first serious, but fever supervened, and he died on the 22nd of September.’ James Alexander received his wound on 15 August.

On 14 September the oft reiterated request of Major Apthorp, commanding Gubbins’ Bastion, was granted by the authorities, and Alexander was sent to him for the purpose of silencing a rebel gun which had been ‘frequently firing into the bastion, damaging embrasures, and knocking the musketry-proof shutters to bits’. Up to this point the authorities, being loathe to supply the enemy with roundshot, would only allow an Artillery officer to spend two hours in the bastion every day, firing one round every twenty minutes from the 18-pounder. ‘On the 14th September Second Lieutenant J. Alexander came down to the bastion and made good practice with the 18-pounder. In twenty rounds he shattered the enemy’s embrasure and damaged the carriage of their 24-pounder, which went out of action and could be clearly seen with its muzzle in the air.’

Martin Gubbins (qv) was delighted and invited Major Fulton of the Engineers to dinner, during which he ‘told how Alexander had silenced the enemy’s battery towards the south-west, and pointed out that their ‘Garden’ battery on the west side was still active. When dinner was over Fulton went out with Apthorp and some others to examine the effect of Alexander’s twenty rounds. He could see with his glass that the enemy were at work on the damaged battery and, calling to Alexander to follow him, he went down into the bastion. As he reached the embrasure a 9-pound shot carried away the back of his head, leaving his face still on his neck, like a mask, untouched.’

Following the relief of Lucknow by Sir Colin Campbell, Alexander served with 4/1 Bengal Artillery at the Alum Bagh under Sir James Outram, and afterwards in the final storm of Lucknow under Campbell. On 30 October 1861 he was promoted 2nd Captain and for the next three years was on furlough. He served two years with the 24th Brigade, R.A., but died at Mian Mir on 21 February 1867.

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); History of the Bengal Artillery, Vol. III (Stubbs); IOL L/MIL/10/56; L/MIL/10/65.