Orders, Decorations and Medals

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieut. J. Johnstone, 3rd N.I.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, rank officially re-impressed, otherwise nearly extremely fine £600-700

John Johnstone was born in Stirlingshire on 9 July 1802. He was appointed Ensign in the 3rd Native Infantry on 13 February 1821, and became Lieutenant on 14 October 1824. During the war in Burma he “Volunteered his assistance to Ensign Clerk, who had command of a detachment at Meekow, to which place Lieut. Johnstone proceeded for provisions and carriage for Lieut. Col. Pepper’s Detachment, and materially contributed in repulsing an attack from the Burmese on Meekow.” (London Gazette 7 October 1826, letters from Ensign Clerk and Lieut. Col. Pepper). Promoted to Captain, March 1830; Major, June 1842; Lieutenant-Colonel, October 1848. Colonel Johnstone was lost at sea on 16 May 1854, in the wreck of the Lady Nugent.

The wooden ship Lady Nugent was chartered by the government of Madras to carry the 25th Regiment of Madras Native Light Infantry to Rangoon. She left Madras on May 10th, 1854, with Lt. Col. Johnstone and four other officers, besides 350 rank and file, 20 women and children and 34 crew, making 409 all told. The Lady Nugent was commanded by Captain G. C. Bannerman. About a fortnight after the vessel left Madras, the Bay of Bengal was swept by a typhoon of unusual violence. No news of the Lady Nugent ever came to hand and eventually the authorities were compelled to post her as missing.