A very good Surgeon’s Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 3 Clasps: Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow awarded to Assistant Surgeon J.J. Clifford, M.D., 9th Lancers who would be Mentioned in Despatches in General Wilson’s second despatch of 15th December 1857 which reported the capture of Delhi, appointed Surgeon on 5th August 1859, and then Surgeon Major on 7th August 1866 and retired with the honorary rank of Deputy Inspector-General on 2nd December 1871.
Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 3 Clasps: Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow; (ASST SURGN J.J. CLIFFORD. M.D., 9TH LANCERS.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
James John Clifford was born in Sligo, Ireland on 8th September 1821. Awarded his MD in Edinburgh during 1843. He was initially employed as an Assistant Surgeon with the Staff on 7th August 1846, before being posted to the 96th Regiment on 18th August 1848 and then the 9th Lancers on 27th January 1854.
He would then be appointed a Surgeon 2nd Class with the Staff on 20th August 1857, serving in the Indian Mutiny, Clifford would be mentioned in General Wilson’s second despatch of 15th December 1857 which reported the capture of Delhi:
‘Amongst those medical officers whose unwearied zeal and superior ability have come prominently before me are Officiating Superintending Surgeon C. McKinnon, M.D., who has been in medical charge of the 1st Brigade Horse Artillery; Surgeon J.H. Ker Innes, 60th Royal Rifles; Surgeon E. Hare of the 2nd Fusiliers; Assistant Surgeon J.J. Clifford, M.D., of the 9th Lancers; and Assistant-Surgeon W.F. Mactier, M.D. on the personal staff of the late Commander in Chief. ‘
He would later be appointed a Surgeon with the 9th Lancers on 5th August 1859, and then promoted to Surgeon Major on 7th August 1866. He retired on half pay on 2nd December 1871 with the honorary rank of Deputy Inspector-General.
Clifford died at Slough on 3rd September 1889
The 9th Lancers were present in India at the outbreak of the Mutiny in 1857. The 9th was the only regiment to be present at the three major actions of the campaign, the Siege of Delhi and the Relief and Siege of Lucknow, and was awarded no less than thirteen Victoria Crosses, justifying the unique honour of a salute of twenty-one guns on their departure from India. But perhaps the greatest tribute paid to the 9th was the title ‘Delhi Spearmen’ bestowed on them by the mutineers who had reason to fear those terrible horsemen who were described by a comrade in arms as ‘the beau ideal of how all the British Cavalry ought to be in Oriental countries’ For their services in the Mutiny the 9th received the honours ‘Delhi 1857’ and ‘Lucknow’
