India Mutiny Medal "Central India".

[leigh kitchen]

One of my few Victorian medals.

[leigh kitchen]

Named to 3761 ARCH'' SUTHERLAND, 72nd HIGHLANDERS, it's been tucked away somewhere for years, lovely black / gunmetal patina, original ribbon (more pink & ochre than red & white now) & heavy silver brooch.

According to a report on the proceedings of a Regimental Board consisting of a Captain C. M. Stockwell & Lieutenants Bassow(?) & Urquhart, & convened at Stirling Castle on 15/1/60, Archibald Sutherland was born in Edinburgh, where he attested on 1/2/56 at the age of 18. He was a servant, he served in the regiment from 1/2/56 - 15/1/66, receiving Good Conduct badges on 2/1/62 & on 1/2/64.

His service lasted for 9 yrs 349 days, he served abroad for 1 6/12 yrs in the East Indies.

His discharge was proposed in consequence of being unfit for further service.

At time of discharge he was described as aged 28 years, 5” 6 ½” tall, with fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

His trade was given as servant.

He bore the marks of “cupping” on his back & had a slight scar, left groin.

His intended place of residence was given as Edinburgh.

An entry states:

“Claims a share of any prize money that may be issued for Central India”

(There was dissent over the sharing of spoils between units involved in “Central India”operations, those who had not seized much booty demanding a share of that seized by others),

Character given as:

"His character and conduct have been "Very Good" and he is in possession of two good conduct Badges - He is in possession of the Indian Mutiny Medal and Clasp for Central India".

"He has been once entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book never tried by Court Martial."

It was found that he suffered from varix, a condition which did not exist prior to service, & that he was not, if discharged, fit to be repassed into the service.

He suffered from no ophthalmic disorder.

“The disability is not the result of wounds or injuries received in action, but may the result of military duty on a constitution predisposed to it”.

“The injury occurred in, and may, possibly, have been induced by the service where a predisposition existed”.

“The disability may have been caused by climate and military service acting on a man of base fibre and feeble constitution”.

“He will be able to contribute towards earning a livelihood . The disease does not seem to have been caused or aggravated by the use of intoxicating liquors or indulgence in other habits or vices”.

On 20/1/66, at Edinburgh the Inspecting Medical Officer endorsed the above description by the Staff Assistant Surgeon of Sutherland’s condition, & stated his opinion that Sutherland was incapacitated for the active duties of a soldier, & that he could not re-enlist if discharged.

The Inspecting General concurred, & on 13/2/66, at Horse Guards, The Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief approved Sutherland’s discharge.

Cryptic entries include

“G35422 Cont. A 21 19.8.68 base fibre & feeble costn.”

“J362247 . D.D. A W.O.”

“J36603 . .. retd.”

Also present is the stamp of The Royal Hospital Chelsea, dated 13/2/90.

At a time when people of Sutherland’s social background from a city like Edinburgh were not generally over nourished through infancy & later life, when the “East Indies” was a posting that resulted in a high number of deaths from disease, and following a campaign for which the Central India clasp was awarded for much marching and participation in pitched battles & innumerable skirmishes on the hot plains of India, it is not perhaps surprising that he was found to be unsuitable for further service in the army.

At least the army found no evidence that Sutherland’s condition was aggravated by intemperance – he was merely predisposed to ailment, being of base fibre & feeble constitution.

I’ve carried out no other research on Archibald Sutherland, but will do so – a start would be simply to check my software of the UK 1881 Census, & to log on to the National Archives to check the 1901 Census.

[leigh kitchen]

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[Greeves]

Outstanding gong there Leigh! Very nice to see an original ribbon in such good condition - even with the discolouration over time. The silver pin clasp is nice to see too. Look forward to any updates you might have as to his post-military service.

[Greeves]

Oh, and for us non-medical types I looked up "Varix" from which your man suffered: it is an enlarged and convoluted vein or lyphatic vessel. Perhaps, if this affected vein was in his legs, it was from all the long marches he would have done during the Indian campaigns.

[Jim Maclean]

As Geoff says a beautiful medal and as I've said before I love those deeply struck young head Victorias - pure class!

Also seems that psychobabble was not a 20th Century invention.

Err..........what's 'cupping'?

[yellow]

A nice medal indeed. I invested in a clasp 'Central India' last year. Unique names on the roll are always a good buy.

I know of a goat that was awarded one!

Steve.

[Greeves]

Err..........what's 'cupping'?

Sounds nasty, doesn't it? Here, from www.medicinenet.com is cupping:

Treatment in which a cup is attached to the skin surface, usually on the back and the air within the cup is evacuated to suck the skin in and increase local blood flow. The practice has numerous variations including burning alcohol or another substance within the cup to create the vacuum and increase the heat.

So, it sounds as if this was a treatment in response to the Varix.

[Jim Maclean]

Thanks Geoff, yes I've seen it done in the Far East, just didn't know the term for it. I had visions of a 19th Century perversion that was grounds for dismissal .

[Greeves]

Thanks Geoff, yes I've seen it done in the Far East, just didn't know the term for it. I had visions of a 19th Century perversion that was grounds for dismissal .

Well, there were, according to Steve, goats present...

[Jim Maclean]

Must be where the expression 'got my goat' comes from. Next sentence being 'bugger off and get your own' or as the Aussies would say 'I'm not shearing this one, Bruce'.


Off to do some painting, it's much safer

[leigh kitchen]

Ah goats - remember the little darlings from E. Timor - Jordanian Warbrides as they're known over there.

Id've thought the varicose veins would've been in his legs, but there's no written indication of where they were.
I just love the implication that it's all the poor blokes own fault because he's made of inferior stuff - smacks of squeezing him through the ringer to get 10 years use out of him & then off to the knackers yard when he's worn out.
If he went back to his old trade of servant then perhaps he had a better life than a lot of people at that time, I must check out the 1881 Census & see if there'sa sign of him perhaps as a servant still in Edinburgh.
It's a lovely medal, with that old ribbon & brooch, it's in near perfect condition under that even layer of black patination.

[Greeves]

I agree the damaged veins were more than likely in his legs - perhaps the cupping was done - in the back, to improve circulation throughout his whole system?



Too true what you say about wringing 10 hard years out of him in India and then saying he's of no further use because he has a weak constitution! Ahhhh...those were the days...

[yellow]

I was of course refering to "Derby I" the ram! Not a goat lol He fought in 6 battles with the 95th Foot. They gave him that medal. The medal can be seen in Nottingham Castle.
Steve.

[leigh kitchen]

I've got some photos of a late Victorian / Edwardian version of Derby, also of a similar beast belonging to one of the regiment's Volunteer battalions - his handlers are two boys in SD with slouch hats.