Medals from a Mutiny Collection

Pair: Captain G. P. Cumming, 44th Bengal Native Infantry, attached 10th Foot

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Ensn. G, P, Cumming, attd. to. 1st. Bn. 10th. Foot); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Bhootan (Lieut. G. P. Cumming 44th. Regt. N.I.) very fine and better (2) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from a Mutiny Collection.

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Provenance: George McIlroy Collection.

George Peter Cumming was born at Trichinopoly in 1841, the son of Dr. G. P. Cumming, Superintendent Surgeon, Madras Establishment, and was educated at Cheltenham College. He was nominated for the Honourable East India Company’s Army by Lieutenant-Colonel Oliphant, and was commissioned Ensign on 12 December 1857, aged 16. He served throughout the Great Sepoy Mutiny attached to the 10th Foot, and was present at some 14 engagements, including the actions of Chandia, Umeerpore and Sultanpore; the siege and capture of Lucknow in March 1858 including the storming of the Embara and Kaiser Bagho; was present with Major General Lugard’s force at the passage of the Tonse; and was present at the Relief of Azimghur; the capture of Jugdispore; and the action of Chitowali and operations in its vicinity.

Cumming was promoted Lieutenant on 6 November 1859, and served with the Bhootan Field Force as a volunteer during the campaign in 1865, being then attached to the 44th Native Infantry. He was promoted Captain on 12 December 1869, and retired due to ill-health in 1870. He lived in retirement for a further 56 years, and died at Portobello, Scotland, in June 1926.

Note: On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny the Cadets of the H.E.I.C. Forces, mostly boys of sixteen or seventeen (including Cumming), known universally throughout India as ‘Griffins’ or ‘Little Griffs’, were attached to various British Regiments, as most of the units they were to have joined, had mutinied. They are not to be found in the British Army Lists of the period, and are only traceable through the East India Registers.

Sold with copied research.