An interesting Indian Mutiny medal with Lucknow clasp ,to an Ensign of the 79th (Cameron) Highlanders.

An interesting Indian Mutiny medal with Lucknow clasp ,to an Ensign of the 79th (Cameron) Highlanders. Indian Mutiny, clasp, Lucknow, Ensign Garden Duff, 79th Highlanders. The medal comes with two original photographs. One is an early photo depicting Ensign Duff in uniform the other shows him in later life. Garden Duff was born in Ireland in 1837 the son of Captain Sir Benjamin Duff of Hempriggs who served in the Cameron Highlanders. He was appointed as Ensign in the 79th Cameron Highlanders on the 28th of December 1855 (Confirmed on Hart’s Army List) and is also confirmed on the medal roll as entitled to the Indian Mutiny Medal with clasp ‘Lucknow.’ The medal was originally framed with a Turkish Crimea medal but research thus far has not shown he served in the Crimea. In 1875 Garden Duff’s name was changed legally to Garden Duff-Dunbar after the title of Baronet Dunbar was bestowed on his father. The now Garden Duff-Dunbar married Jane Louisa Duff, daughter of Lt-Col James Duff of Knockleith on the 26th of September 1876 at St Margaret’s Episcopol Church, Forgue, Aberdeenshire. The marriage produced two sons :- George, later Sir George Sutherland Duff-Dunbar of Hempriggs who followed in his father’s footsteps being commissioned into the Cameron Highlanders serving later in the Indian Army. He saw action in both world wars. Kenneth, later Lt-Cdr Kenneth James Duff-Dunbar D.S.O. , died in 1916 whilst in command of Submarine E16 when she was lost with all hands in the North Sea. Sadly, his only son, Captain Kenneth Duff-Dunbar was killed in action in August 1944 in France with the Seaforth Highlanders. Garden Duff died in Devon on the 1st of June 1889. The 79th Cameron Highlanders in the Indian Mutiny. After being stationed for a short time at Shorncliffe and for some months at Canterbury and having been present at the distribution of the Victoria Cross by her Majesty in Hide Park on June 26th1857, the 79th proceeded to Dublin, where it landed on the 28th.However, their stay was brief as the Indian Mutiny erupted and they were soon ordered to prepare for active service. The regiment was rapidly completed to 1000 rank and file, and set sail in the beginning of August, arriving at Madras Roads early in November, when it received orders to proceed to Calcutta, where it disembarked on the 28th of November and occupied Fort-William. After remaining there for a few days, the 79th, on Dec. 2nd, proceeded to Raneegunge, under the command of Lt.-Colonel John Douglas. Towards the end of the month the regiment left Raneegunge for Allahabad, where it halted till the 5th of Jan. 1858, a day memorable in the history of the 79th for its having marched upwards of 48 miles, and gained its first victory in the East, that of Secunclragunge, in which happily it had no casualties. The regiment left Allahabad for Lucknow on the 18th of Jan., and on the 28th of Feb. it joined the force under Sir Cohn Campbell at Camp Bunterah. The regiment was then commanded by Lt.-Colonel Taylor, Lt.-Colonel Douglas having been appointed to the command of the 5th Infantry Brigade. After passing the Goomtee, the 79th joined the force under Sir James Outram, and was brigaded with the 1st battalion of the 23rd Fusiliers and the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, under the command of Brigadier General Douglas. The regiment was now in the Lucknow relief force and performed its part bravely during the siege and capture of Lucknow, from the 2nd to the 16th of March 1858 .It lost 2 Officers 7 other ranks killed with, Brevet-Major Miller, Ensign Haine, and 21 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded. After the capture of Lucknow the 79th joined the division under the command of Major-General Walpole, in the advance towards Allahgunge, Shahjehanpoor, and Bareilly. Its next engagement was the action of Boodaoon, where the regiment had only 1 man wounded, who afterwards died of his wounds. On the 22nd of April the 79th was present at the action of Allahgunge, where it had no casualties. On the 27th, Sir Colin Campbell assumed command of the force and marched on Bareihly, the 79th, along with the 42nd and 93rd, forming the Highland brigade. On the 5th of May the 79th was formed in line of battle before Bareihly, gaining another victory, with a loss of only 2 men killed and 2 wounded. The regiment received the special thanks of Sir Colin Campbell. The 79th next made a forced march to the relief of Shahjehanpoor, under the command of Brigadier-General John Jones, and on the 21st of May participated in the attack.Thence it went to Mohoomdee, in the attack on which it took part on the 24th and 25th; here it had 2 men wounded, and, according to the Record-Book, upwards of 100 men suffered from sunstroke. After this last action the regiment once more found itself in quarters at Futtehgurh and Cawnpore, one wing being detached to Ahlahabad; this, however, was only for a short time, as on the 21st of October an order was received for the 79th to join the brigade in Oudh, under Brigadier-General Wetherall, C. B. On the 3rd of November the 79th was present at the storm and capture of Rampoor Kosilab, the regiment losing only 2 men killed, and 1 sergeant and 6 privates wounded. For its conduct on this occasion the 79th was complimented in General Orders by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. Brig.-Gen. Wetherall having left the force, was succeeded in command by Sir Hope Grant, K.C.B., who appointed Lt.-Col. Taylor, 79th, to command the brigade, Major Butt succeeding the latter in command of the 79th. The 79th proceeded by forced marches to Fyzabad to commence the trans-Ghogra operations, and was present at the action of the passage of the Ghogra on the 25th of November, the skirmish at Muchllgan on the 6th of Dec., and the skirmish at Bundwa Kotee on the 3rd of Jan. 1859. After the last-mentioned engagement the 79th received orders to proceed to Meean Meer in the Punjab, under the command of Lt.-Col. Taylor. Thus ended the Indian Mutiny, during which the casualties to the 79th Highlanders amounted 158 of all ranks killed. For its gallant conduct during the Indian campaign the 79th received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament and was authorised to bear on its colours the battle honour of ‘Lucknow.’ Condition – NEF, some light contact wear.