Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Regimental Sergeant-Major Frederick Close, 4th European Light Cavalry

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Regl. S. Major, 4th Eurpn. Lt. Cavly.); Honourable East India Company L.S. & G.C., H.E.I.C. arms on obverse (Sergt. Major, 10th Regt. L.C. 15th Jany. 1857) contact marks to the reverse of the second medal, otherwise good very fine and scarce (2) £400-450

L.S. & G.C. announced by the Adjutant General’s Office, Meerut, 15 January 1857: Sergeant Major Frederick Close, of the 10th regiment of light cavalry, ‘a silver medal immediately, and a gratuity equivalent to £15 on discharge, in addition to ordinary pension.’

Frederick Close, a native of Lewisham, Kent, enlisted for the East India Company’s Bengal Artillery at Soho Square, London, on 21 June 1836. He was posted as Gunner to 1st Troop 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery and later promoted to Rough Rider and Farrier Sergeant. He does not appear on the artillery medal rolls for either of the Sikh Wars. He was appointed to act as Riding Master 10th Bengal Light Cavalry on 19 February 1857, and is shown as Sergeant Major by September of that year, and as Sergeant Major of the 4th Bengal European Light Cavalry by September 1859. Sold with some research, including copies from the medal rolls.