A Collection of Medals to the Indian Police

Pair: Bandmaster Patrick Ryan, Punjab Police, late Band Sergeant, Gloucestershire Regiment

Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (P. Ryan, Bandmaster, P Police Durbar 1911); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (1719 Band Sgt., P. Ryan, Glouc. R.) mounted for wear, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Indian Police.

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Band Sergeant Patrick Ryan, 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was awarded the L.S. & G.C. on 1 July 1893.

An extract from Our Police Heritage: Saga of the Police Forces of Pakistan and India reads:
‘The very popular Police Silver Band of which the Punjab has always been proud took birth in 1861 when Middleton its first bandmaster raised it by collecting some retired men. When Middleton left for England in 1874 he was replaced by Johnson from Deccan and Hyderabad who started turning out the band for parades and display in blue shirts and blue pantaloons and puttees. In 1894, Ryan was appointed as band master and he enlisted local talent, adding about 16 new hands by 1904. In 1906 the quarters of the band were shifted from Subhan Khans lines in Lahore city to the district police lines. .... Ryan retired in 1920 and his successor Captain Von laid the foundations for a band fund from its earnings.’

With a silver match case, approx. 60 x 50mm., inscribed, ‘From Wyn Dew Brien to Patrick O’Ryan (sic) Feby 4th 1915’. With copied research.