The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord

The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Drummer R. J. Russell, 54th Foot, a survivor of the Sarah Sands disaster

Indian Mutiny 1857-59 (2755 Drumr. R. J. Russell H.M’s 54th. Regt.) good very fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Robert James Russell was born on 17 January 1836 in Howleap, West Meath, and attested for the 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot on 17 January 1850. Appointed a Drummer on 1 December 1851, he embarked aboard the ill-fated Sarah Sands, bound for India, in August 1857, and thus became embroiled in one of the epic shipwrecks of Victorian times.

The Sarah Sands, with 368 officers and men of the 54th Regiment, together with women and children, a total complement of some 500 persons including the ship’s crew, sailed from Portsmouth on 15 August 1857. During the course of the voyage the crew became mutinous and many of them were locked in irons below deck. On 7 November a squall carried away the foremost of the vessel's four masts but on 11 November a more serious disaster occurred when a fire broke out some days after leaving Cape Town. For 18 hours the troops and loyal members of the crew fought the fire with admirable discipline. The women and children were successfully lowered in the boats to safety whilst the mutinous sailors deserted in the ship's long boat. The gallantry of the 54th, together with the petty officers and engineers who had remained on board, in fighting the fire and the subsequent powder explosion is a matter of record. The regimental colours, kept in the saloon, were saved by the bravery of half a dozen volunteers who reached them after repeated attempts. Several casks of powder blew up most of the ship aft of the mainmast but in the process also blew away much of the burning woodwork, enabling the fire to be finally extinguished. Without loss of life, the Sarah Sands reached Port Louis, Mauritius, after being adrift for 12 days. Many soldiers had been terribly burned, their uniforms having been almost scorched from their bodies by the intense heat and flames of the fire. Of the original strength of the 54th only 151 remained fit enough to proceed to India and earn the medal for service during the Mutiny.

Promoted Corporal on 1 March 1859, and Sergeant on 11 September 1862, he was appointed Drum Major on 3 September 1867, and was finally discharged on 16 February 1875, after 21 years and 22 days’ service.