Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Jubilee 1887’ O.B.I. group of three awarded to Subadar-Major Tan Sanwant Bahadur, 1st Bombay Grenadiers, who was one of the senior native officers present at the Battle of Maiwand

Order of British India, 2nd Class neck badge, gold and enamel, reverse with central screw-nut fitting; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Subadar Tan Sawunt. 1. Grs. N.I.) impressed naming; India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-87 (Subr. Major Tan Sanwant 1st Bo: Infy.) the campaign medals both fitted with contemporary silver riband bars, the second with some cuts to obverse rim, the last with scratch to Queen’s cheek, these about very fine, the first extremely fine (3) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Second Afghan War 1878-80.

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O.B.I. 2nd Class Bombay Government Gazette 13 October 1887: ‘Subadar-Major Tan Sanwant, 1st Bombay Infantry’.

Tan Sanwant entered into the service of 1st Regiment (Grenadiers) Bombay Infantry in 1857, and took part in the Burda Hills expedition against the Wagheers in 1859. He was commissioned as Jemadar on 1 January 1877, as Subadar on 10 November 1878, and as Subadar-Major on 9 September 1886.

As a commissioned native officer, Subadar Tan Sanwant took part, with his regiment, in the Afghan campaign of 1878-80, being present at the battle of Maiwand, the defence of Kandahar and the battle of Kandahar. As Subadar-Major, he took part in the Burma campaign of 1885-7.

For his distinguished service he was appointed to the Order of British India, (2nd Class, with title Bahadur), in the Queen’s Jubliee year, on 21 June 1887, and retired from the service on 26 April 1889.

Sold with comprehensive research.