Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Tyler, who was present with the 20th N.I. at Meerut upon the outbreak on 10 May 1857, from where he made a miraculous escape while many of his fellow officers were killed; subsequently attached to 1/60th Royal Rifles, he served throughout the battles of the Hindun, the siege, assault and capture of Delhi, where he was severely wounded, and throughout the Rohilcund campaign. Three times mentioned in despatches for the Mutiny, and afterwards for Abyssinia

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Lt. J. H. Tyler, 20th N.I., Attd. to 1st Bn. 60th Rl. Rifles) nearly extremely fine £1200-1500

John Hobart Tyler was born on 18 October 1831, at Iver, Buckinghamshire, the 6th son of Sir George Tyler Kt., K.H., Rear Admiral R.N., Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent and M.P., and his wife Harriet Margaret daughter of the Right Honorable John Sullivan, P.C., M.P., Under Secretary of State for War. His grandfather was Admiral Sir Charles Tyler, G.C.B., who, as a Captain, fought at the battle of Copenhagen and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Trafalgar whilst commanding HMS Tonnant.

Educated by Stoton and Meyer at Wimbledon, he was nominated for the Bengal Infantry by Sir James Lushington, G.C.B., on the recommendation of the Earl of Ripon and travelled on the overland route to India on 13 December 1849. He was appointed Ensign on 20 December 1849; Lieutenant, 23 November 1856; Brevet-Captain, 20 December 1861; Captain 13 June 1865; Major, 20 December 1869; and Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel, 9 December 1874. His Services in the Field as compiled from his service record are listed with additions from other sources:

On arrival in India was directed to do duty with the 27th Bengal Native Infantry at Benares, 1 March 1850. Posted to do duty with the 20th Bengal Native Infantry at Noorpore, 25 May 1850. Served in the Boree Valley Expedition in 1853, and against Boree Afreedies (Colonel Boileau's Despatch dated 2 December 1853). Action against the the Busser Kheyls in 1855.

Served throughout the Mutiny with the 1st Battalion 60th Royal Rifles, from 12 May 1857 at Meerut to the end of July 1858. Present at the actions of the Hindun 30th and 31st May 1857, and the battle of Badli-Ke-Serai and the heights before Delhi on 8 June 1857. Present at the Siege operations before Delhi and the subsequent assault and capture of the city on 14 September 1857, and final attack on the Palace (severely wounded).

Served as Extra Orderly Officer to Brigadier-General J. Jones, C.B., 60th Royal Rifles, in the Rohilcund campaign of 1858. Present at the actions of Bagawalla, 17 April, Nuggeenah, 21 April, Relief of Moradabad, 25 April, action of Doojavia, 5 May, attack and capture of Bareilly, attack and bombardment of Shahjahampore and defeat of the rebels, 11 May, capture of Fort Bunnoi, 24 May, pursuit of enemy to left bank of the Gomtee River and destruction of the Fort of Mahundee, 26 May (Medal with clasp for Delhi).

He was 3 times Mentioned in Despatches under Brigadier General Jones: for Nageenah Calcutta Gazette 2 June 1858; for Bareilly Calcutta Gazette 5 June 1858; and for Shahjehanpore Field Force, 21 July 1858.

Appointed officiating Adjutant, 12th Irregular Cavalry, 29 October 1858, and Adjutant, June 1860 until March 1861. Appointed wing officer 21st Punjab Pioneers, 17 September 1865. Served in the Abyssinia campaign of 1867-68 as Wing officer of the 23rd Punjab Pioneers until 29 April 1869. Mentioned in despatches of Major-General Russell, commanding at Zoola No. 8, dated 3 June 1868 (Medal). Appointed officiating 2nd in command, 20th Punjab Pioneers, 30 October 1870. Retired from the service, 23 January 1875.

Meerut

Lieutenant Tyler was present with the 20th Native Infantry at Meerut on 10 May 1857. There are many accounts of the events at Meerut but in N. A Chick's Annals of the Indian Rebellion one account references the movements and savagery that took place with respect to the 20th N.I.: On Sunday the 10th May, at half past 5 p.m. several officers of the 20th N.I. were sitting in the commanding officer's bungalow when Lieut. Pattle entered with information that he had been told that some disturbance had occurred in the lines. The officers proceeded to the lines without returning to their respective bungalows to collect their arms. The sepoys were quiet but were informed that a report had been circulated that the Europeans were coming down to seize the regimental magazine. The officers walked through the lines talking and assuring the men that if they remained quiet their magazine would remain intact. On arriving at the magazine they found the road blocked with natives from the Sudder Bazaar. They thronged in such immense numbers close to the magazine that Captain Taylor ordered the grenadier company to drive the populace back. The sepoys did not move and only the Christian drummers and musicians, who had armed themselves with sticks, carried out the order.

Several sepoys were seen stealing away with loaded muskets. The officers ran after them and persuaded them to return to their huts. Presently a 3rd light cavalry trooper galloped into the lines and told the men that the Europeans were coming and that if they were soldiers and intended in doing something, to do it at once. The Bazaar miscreants joined in the cry. Entire companies now rushed forward and although many were turned back by the officers of the 20th N.I. many stole away towards the magazine. The kotees were broken open, the arms seized and Colonel Finnis, 11th N.I., on approaching the 20th magazine was fired at and killed. Captain MacDonald, 20th N.I. and V. Tregear, Inspector of Schools, were shot down immediately. The remaining officers, including Lieut. Tyler, took up their position in the centre of the street and were endeavouring to hold back the left wing. Bullets were flying thickly around them and several sepoys urged them to leave. They walked sorrowfully away not wishing to show the indignity of running. There was no lack of courage displayed by the officers of the 20th N.I. Lieut. Humphrey had his horse shot under him riddled with 11 bullets. Not a single officer, unarmed as they were, hesitated in forcing back their men, and on refusing to return to duty, sepoys with muskets loaded and cocked were knocked down by the fists of their unarmed officers. However there is a time for everything, a time to fight and a time to run. The escape of any officer of the 20th NI was indeed miraculous.

Lieut. Humphrey fell from his horse and although fired upon managed to escape. Captain Earle escaped by driving at full gallop through crowds of natives amidst showers of bullets, neither horse or buggy nor men were injured. Ensign Lewis was wounded in the neck but managed to run through some compounds, in one of which he found a carriage about to drive off and clambered on board.

Captain Taylor and Lieuts. Henderson, Shuldham, Pattle, Tyler and Assistant Surgeon Adley went off in a body unarmed and on foot. Wherever they moved they encountered immense mobs; every street, lane, by-path and compound was one vast mass of animated villainy, yelling death and destruction to the Feringhees. After numerous escapes, occasionally effected by the use of their fists against armed men they took refuge in the out-houses of Colonel Smyth's compound. Captain Taylor, and Lieuts. Henderson and Pattle became separated and were discovered and their out-house set on fire. They were killed by the mob escaping from the flames.

Lieuts. Tyler, Shuldham and Assistant Surgeon Adley were in the same compound but had taken refuge in what N. A. Chick euphemistically describes as the “Temple of Cloacina”. Cloacina was the Roman Goddess of the sewer so it leaves us in no doubt that they had chosen the servants latrines to seek refuge. The mob set fire to every out-house save the the Temple of Cloacina. Armed with just sticks they vowed to fight to the end. Again Chick euphemistically describes their “sanctuary” with the words, “the sanctity of their asylum proved their salvation”. For fully 5 hours they endured this “sanctuary” until the sound of marching troops freed them from their refuge.

Tyler's professionalism and humour under Brigadier General John Jones at Delhi and throughout the Rohilcund must have impressed the officers of the 60th Royal Rifles for they presented him with a large silver tankard with lid, inscribed with the words:

“Presented to Lt. J. H. Tyler Bengal Army by the officers of the 1st Batt. 60th Royal Rifles with which Corps he served during the campaigns of 1857-8 including the siege, assault and capture of Delhi, in token of esteem and in memory of pleasant days of fellowship”.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tyler bequeathed this cup to his son Mervyn Hobart Tyler with the express wish that it never be sold or parted from the family. In 1958, a Mrs Hawkins, whose husband had served with the Royal Rifles in in WW2, found and purchased the cup from a barrow stall in London and subsequently sold it to the Celer et Audax Club. It presently resides in the Warrant Officers and Sergeants' Mess of the 1st Bn. The Royal Green jackets, Weeton Barracks, near Preston. A copied photograph of the cup is included with the lot.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tyler returned to Glamorgan and lived in the family seat at Manor House, St. Hilary, where he became a J.P. and active member of society, being for years chairman of the Cowbridge county bench of magistrates. On 30 March 1880, he married his cousin Helen Margaret, 4th daughter of the Reverend Roper Trevor Tyler. He died on 11 March 1918, at Ventnor Lodge, Clevedon, Somerset, aged 86.

Sold with a very comprehensive file of research.