Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Dr. Saml. De Gratt.) nearly extremely fine £400-£500

Provenance: Captain R. C. Bentley Collection, Sotheby 1970.

‘Doctor Samuel De Gratt. Civil Assistant Surgeon. Hazereebad. Engaged Chuttra. Accompanied the troops to Chuttra and was in medical charge of the Seiks, was present under fire in the engagement of 2nd October 1857, proceeded with the Seiks to the village of Kuthoutea and was engaged in affording aid to the wounded.’ (Indian Mutiny medal roll L/MIL/5/86 Folios 44, 116 & 169 refer).

Note: The entries of the surname on the medal roll are all shown as De Gratt and the medal is so named. A search of the Surgeons Records (L/MIL/9/395 Folio 264) shows that the doctor’s correct surname was Delpratt. The confusion is easily understood when you view his extremely florid signature.

Samuel Delpratt was appointed Assistant Surgeon, 6 May 1854; Surgeon, 29 March 1866; Surgeon Major, 17 February 1875. He served with the Artillery; 1st Bengal Fusiliers; 3rd European Regiment; Civil Assistant Surgeon, Arrah, December 1854; 44th Regiment N.I.; served throughout the Sonthal campaign in medical charge of 13th, 31st & 42nd Regiments N.I.; Civil Assistant Surgeon, Hazaribagh, March 1856; Civil Assistant Surgeon, Kanchee, November 1865; 10th Madras N.I., 1865; Assistant Surgeon, Hazaribagh, September 1868.

‘The Ramgarh battalion, consisting of the two companies of the 8th Native Infantry at Hazaribagh, decided on the 30th July to start the mutiny from the evening of the following day. Captain Simpson, the District Commissioner, got the news of the actual hour fixed for the outbreak from one of his servants. The only safety lay in immediate flight. Captain Simpson, Dr Delpratt and Mr Liebart of Sitagarh hastily set out on foot towards Ichack which they reached at night fall. They were supplied with horses and after a few hours rest they set out for Bagodar.’ (Hazaribagh Old Records 1761-1878, by P. Choudhrey refers).

On the matter of an outbreak of Rinderpest ‘in the district of Hazeerbagh the Civil Surgeon Dr S. Delpratt reported that no remedy was known, and no medicine had been administered... sacrifices of goats to Kali and poojahs have been made, but without any favourable responses having been vouchsafed by the goddess.’

Doctor Samuel Delpratt died in England on 17 February 1875.