The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

The Indian Mutiny medal to Lieutenant Percy Smyth, 97th Regiment, mortally wounded at Lucknow

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut. P. C. Smyth, 97th Regt.) nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Percy Charles Smyth was born in London on 17 January 1837 and entered the Army aged 18 years as an Ensign in H.M’s 97th (Earl of Ulster’s) Regiment on 9 March 1855. Promoted Lieutenant in September he joined his regiment in the Crimea in December and returned home with it in July 1856. In November 1857, the regiment arrived in India and joined the army in Oudh. Leaving their sick men, heavy baggage and quartermaster’s stores at Benares, the remainder of the 97th marched out for Lucknow on 4th January 1858 with the Jaunpore Field Force. The force, commanded by Brigadier-General T. H. Franks, a fiery Irishman and a bold soldier, consisted of the 10th, 20th and 97th Regiments, some 3,000 loyal Gurkhas, about 60 mounted men and 18 guns.

The first clash with the mutineers was near a village called Nusrutpore on the morning of 23rd January, but the rebels offered little resistance and lost two of their guns. After further minor actions on 19th and 23rd February, with the loss of two killed and 13 wounded, the column marched on without trouble until it reached Dowrara, eight miles from Lucknow, on 4th March. A fort in the village was found to be occupied by some rebels and Franks sent his horsemen, some guns and three companies of the 97th to capture it. While the guns bombarded the fort, the company commanded by Major C. R. Chichester, with Lieutenants Gould and Morgan, passed round the village, stormed the outworks of the fort and brought out two guns. Some of the fugitives were cut down by our horsemen. In the attack Smyth, who was acting as orderly officer to the Commanding Officer of the 10th Foot, was mortally wounded. In his despatch Brigadier-General Franks mentioned Lieutenant Smyth as a brave and promising officer.

Ref: WO 25/544; The 97th or Earl of Ulster’s Regiment 1824-1881 (Chaplin).