LIEUTENANT (LATER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, SIR) J. LOUIS, 3RD BOMBAY EUROPEAN REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION LEINSTER REGIMENT). Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Central India

LIEUTENANT (LATER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, SIR) J. LOUIS, 3RD BOMBAY EUROPEAN REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION LEINSTER REGIMENT). Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Central India (official late issue naming, impressed in large block capitals: LIEUT. J. LOUIS, 3. BO. E.R.). Suspender re-affixed, Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by an interesting archive of photocopied documents and research regarding this officer.

Sir John Louis, 3rd Baronet, of Chelston, Devon, was born 28th August 1832 at Moradabad, India, the son of Thomas Louis, Bengal Civil Service (died 1836 in India). Educated initially at the Reverend F. Wickhamss Preparatory School, Louis was afterwards at Harrow from September 1843 to March 1847. He was recommended for a commission in the Bombay Infantry by Henry Princep, one of the directors of the East India Company, on 15th February 1854. Louis was first commissioned Ensign 4th March 1855, and promoted Lieutenant 23rd November 1856, Captain 27th November 1865, Major 7th October 1871 and Lieutenant-Colonel 5th February 1873. Lieutenant-Colonel Louis retired from the Indian Army in 1877. Though he initially remained in India, he later elected to reside in Europe, and died near Bruges in 1893. Louis saw active service during the Indian Mutiny campaign, 1857-58, being present with the 3rd Bombay European Regiment at the siege and capture of Ratghur, the action at Barodia, the relief of Saugor, capture of Garrakota, the forcing of the Muddenpore Pass, the siege and storming of the city and fortress of Jhansi and the battle of Betwa. The Indian Mutiny Medal was his sole medal entitlement.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Louis was the great-grandson of Sir Thomas Louis, 1st Baronet, Rear Admiral of the White, K.M.T., K.S.F., Royal Navy, who was created a Baronet for his distinguished services afloat. Sir Thomas was one of Nelson’s captains, and in that capacity commanded HMS Canopus at, and received a Small Gold Medal for, the battle of the Nile. In 1799, when in command of a party of ships boats, he had the honour of capturing Rome, hoisted the union flag on the Capitol Hill, and, as Governor, sat in Caesar’s chair. He missed Trafalgar, being detached before the combined Spanish and French fleet set sail. Lieutenant-Colonel Louis’s grandfather, Sir John Louis, 2nd Baronet, K.C.B., the distinguished seaman and admiral in the Royal Navy, was at one time Aide-de-Camp to William IV. Lieutenant-Colonel Louiss father, Thomas Louis, Bengal Civil Service, died in India in 1836, with the result that on the death of Admiral Sir John Louis, 2nd Baronet, in 1863, the then Lieutenant John Louis, the recipient of the medal offered here, succeeded to the Baronetcy.