Miniature Medals from the Collection of Mark Cline

An attractively mounted group of six miniature dress medals attributed to Lieutenant-General J. D. Parsons, Indian Army

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, 16mm., uniface, gold and enamel; Ghuznee 1839, 16mm., silver, obverse and reverse details finely engraved; Maharajpoor Star 1843, 17mm., bronze, with engraved silver centre; Afghanistan, Order of the Dooranee Empire, 17mm., uniface, gold and enamel; Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846, 16mm., silver, obverse legend and reverse details finely engraved; Army of India 1799-1826, 17mm., silver, obverse legend and reverse details finely engraved, all with ring suspensions, pendant from a 100 x 5mm. gold bar, ornamented with laurel leaves and with a pin fitting to the reverse, with original (slightly worn) ribbons, very fine and better (6) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Miniature Medals from the Collection of Mark Cline.

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Collection

Ex Spink 12 July 1994, lot 205.

James Duckett Parsons was born in 1786 at Dublin. Arriving in India in 1805, he was posted as an Ensign with the 25th Bengal Native Infantry in 1806. Volunteering for overseas service, he was present at the capture of the Isle of France, 1810. Promoted Lieutenant in 1812, he took part in the Nepaul Campaign, 1815-16 and the Pindaree War 1817-18. He was promoted Captain in 1824, Major in 1836 and was appointed Deputy Commissariat General in 1837, a post he retained until 1847. Parsons served with the Army of Indus in the First Afghan War and was present at the storming of Ghuznee, where he was wounded. For his services he was given the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Order of the Dooranee Empire, 2nd Class. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1842, he served in the Gwalior Campaign in 1843 and was mentioned in despatches. He again saw active service in the First Sikh War and was mentioned in the despatches for Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon. For his services in the War he was created a C.B. Further promotions followed, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1867. He died in 1867.