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

The campaign pair for the captures of Java and Bhurtpoor to Private John Leaver, 59th Foot, who was wounded in Java

(a) Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (John Leaver, 59th Foot)

(b) Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (J. Leaver, 59th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, good very fine £1800-2200

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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Ex Glendining July 1910, Coutts, Professor Leyland Robinson and Fred North collections.

John Leaver was born at Brislington, Somerset, circa 1786, and declared his trade on enlistment into the 59th Regiment of Foot, at Portsmouth on 1 September 1804, as ‘Labourer’. He took part with his regiment in the capture of Java from the French and Dutch garrison in August 1811, and remained with the colours to take part in the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor with Captain Manners’ Company fifteen years later. He was finally invalided and embarked for England on 27 January 1828 under the command of Lieutenant Tidy of H.M’s 14th Regiment in the Honourable Company’s ship Princess Charlotte of Wales, being discharged on 23 June 1828 as ‘being old and worn out.’ He was always a Private and had served a total of 21 years and 217 days in the East Indies. His conduct is shown as good and it is recorded that he was wounded in the left hand in Java on 26 August 1811. He was awarded a pension of 1/7d per day and died at Bristol on 4 April 1855.

Ref: WO 25/1909.