Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (C. L. Haygarth,) good very fine £200-£300

Provenance: J. McPhail Massie Collection, Glendining’s, September 1961.

C. L. Haygarth was Superintendent of the Government Mail Cart Department at Agra and served with the Agra Militia Infantry (Medal). These initials are as per the medal roll but his correct initials were C. S.

When the official decision was made in 1861 to take a series of photographs for the book titled ‘The People of India’ normally amateurs, military and civil officers who had the necessary skills carried out this work, and were not paid for it. At Bharatpur the political agent was unable to find a suitably skilled individual and the task was carried out by Shepherd & Robertson of Agra, the only time that commercial photographers were commissioned. In Gwalior Captain Staden, who was an amateur photographer, had recently left the station and thus Mr Haygarth made his own offer to Major Meade, in temporary charge of the Gwalior Agency. Meade reported:

‘I addressed the only other available Photographer in the neighbourhood, Mr Haygarth, Inspector of Mails on the Agra Bombay Line, who has intimated his readiness to undertake the work.’

Haygarth’s suggestion that he undertake the work ‘on the terms customary with professional photographers’ was met with a swift response to halt all photography on such ‘preposterous terms.’

Haygarth died at Ghazipore on 16 May 1902, late Superintendent of Post Offices, retired, aged 72.