Medals from the Collection of the late Mike Minton

Pair: H.M. Weatherall, District Superintendent of Police

INDIAN MUTINY 1857-58, 1 clasp, Relief of Lucknow (Dep. Assr. Comy.); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1854-95, 1 clasp, Bhootan (Dis. Sup. of Police) very fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Mike Minton.

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Henry Michael Weatherall joined the Bengal Uncovenanted Civil Service in 1850. He served during the Indian Mutiny and was present with the Commander-in-Chiefs force on the march from Cawnpore to Dilkosha (Lucknow) and thence with the advance post to Secunderabagh. He was in charge of the Field Commissariat at Secunderabagh for two days during the relief of the Garrison at Lucknow. He was then present at Cawnpore during the attack of the Gwalior regiments and was successful in bringing into the entrenchments large quantities of grain and 1,400 bullocks.

His first appointment to the Bengal Police came in April 1862, and as District Superintendent he served in the Bhootan War. He was present with the force at Balladoer with General Tytler and at Putla Kowah under Lieut. Col. de Bourbal, Royal Engineers, where he superintended the building operations in the new cantonments. Weatherall had arrived at Putla Kowah at the beginning of May 1865, with the Cooly Corps, to find that a most virulent form of cholera had broken out and that most of de Bourbal's Coolies had deserted. He assisted in obtaining more Coolies from the neighbouring districts and induced the men to stay at Putla Kowah and work during the next three weeks of the cholera outbreak which had decimated the strength of the 5th Bengal Cavalry and 11th Native Infantry.

Further reference to Weatherall can be found in 'Memoirs of a Bengal Civilian' by John Beames who wrote: 'Mike, as he was called, was a man born in India of European parents, so at least he said, but that there was 'black blood' in him from some ancestor or ancestors was undeniable. His native place was Rishra near Serampore. He spoke English with a slight accent, but Bengali and Urdu absolutely like a native. With his dusky complexion, when dressed in native clothes, he passed as a Musulman among Musulmans themselves. He was as wily as a fox, and a born detective. Having lived among natives all his life he was intimately acquainted with all their ways and tricks and superstitions and, being absolutely unscrupulous, he was a match for the craftiest criminal.'