THE INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL AWARDED TO PRIVATE FREDERICK WHIRLPOOL VC HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY DIX NOONAN WEBB IN LONDON.
12 November 2020


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Private Frederick Whirlpool,
3rd Bombay ( European ) Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Central India"

  • Impressed naming:
  • FREDK WHIRLPOOL, 3RD BOMBAY EUPNS


The Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Private Frederick Whirlpool VC, 3rd Bombay ( European ) Regiment, has been sold at auction by Dix Noonan Webb in London, along with a 'copy' Victoria Cross.

The Indian Mutiny Medal is included in Part-2 of the sale of the Australian Warwick Cary's medal collection. The sale estimate was between £6,000 and £8,000. The sale hammer price realised £5,500.

Frederick Whirlpool's Victoria Cross is currently owned by an Australian medal collector and has been on a long loan to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 21 October 1859 ], Jhansi, Indian Mutiny, 3 April 1858, Private Frederick Whirlpool, 3rd Bombay ( European ) Regiment.

For gallantly volunteering on the 3rd of April 1858, in the attack of Jhansi, to return and carry away several killed and wounded, which he did twice under a very heavy fire from the wall: also, for devoted bravery at the Assault of Lohari on the 2nd of May 1858, in rushing to the rescue of Lieutenant Donne, of the Regiment, who was dangerously wounded. In this service, Private Whirlpool received seventeen desperate wounds, one of which nearly severed his head from his body.

The gallant example shown by this man is considered to have greatly contributed to the success of the day.

Frederick Whirlpool was invested with his Victoria Cross by Lady Barkley in Melbourne, Australia, on the 20th June 1861.


Frederick Whirlpool died on the 24th June 1899 in McGrath's Hill, New South Wales, and was buried in the town's cemetery in an unmarked grave. There is now a plaque dedicated to Frederick Whirlpool in the Memorial NSW Garden of Remembrance, Lidcombe.

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Iain Stewart, 12 November 2020