A group of Afghan and Indian campaign medals has seen top bids in Baldwin's and Dreweatts' bi-annual Military Sale, which was held on November 6 in London.
 Burn was responsible for the interrogation of Mughal poet Ghalib during the Indian Mutiny, but ensured safe passage for the writer |
The medals were presented to Major-General Henry Pelham Burn for his service in the British Afghan campaign of 1840-1842, as well as during the Indian Mutiny in 1857.
The group of four, with an additional medal awarded to Burn's son, made £11,000 ($17,684) - an 83.3% increase on estimate.
The group comprises Burn's Jellalabad Medal (1841-1842, 2nd "flying victory" type reverse), Cabul Medal (1841-1842, "CABUL 1842" type reverse), Punjab Medal (1848-1849, no clasp) and Indian Mutiny Medal (1857-1859, single clasp, Delhi), as well as his son's Indian General Service Medal with Burma clasp.
Burn joined the East India Company in 1824 aged 16, and was promoted to lieutenant the following year. In 1839 he was made a captain, and was selected for service in the first Afghan war by Sir Claude Wade, governor general for the affairs of the Punjab and north-west frontier.
He was present at the Battle of Jellalabad in 1842, which saw the British outpost under siege from Afghan forces, though a counterattack resulted in the Afghan forces retreating to Kabul. He then served during the re-occupation of Kabul, and was rewarded with a staff appointment.
Burn was then sent to India, where he served during the siege and fall of Delhi, and was responsible for the interrogation of the renowned Mughal poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. He provided the poet with safe passage to his home, and helped to preserve his writings from this period.
 Hand-and-a-half swords are strong enough to cut through armour, but light enough to hold in one hand |
Among the weaponry offered in the sale was a German or Swiss hand-and-a-half sword, made circa 1530, which met its low estimate at $6,000 ($9,646). Hand-and-a-half swords are long straight blades that are renowned for being both lightweight and powerful.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb selection of militaria for sale.
