The unique and exceptional 1891 'Capture and Defence of Thobal' V.C. group of fiveawarded to 30-year-old Scotsman Lieutenant, later Colonel, C. J. W. Grant of the 12thRegiment (2nd Burma Battalion) Madras Infantry will be offered by Dix Noonan Webb intheir live/ online auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on Wednesday,June 23, 2021 on their website www.dnw.co.uk. It is expected to fetch £300,000-400,000.

Charles James William Grant was born in Bourtie, Aberdeenshire in 1861, the son ofLieutenant-General P. C. S. St. J. Grant, and was educated privately and at the Royal MilitaryCollege, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment on 10 May1882, and joined the Madras Staff Corps in 1884. After a long military career, he spent hislater years in Sidmouth in Devon, where he died in 1932, aged 71 years.

As, Mark Quayle, Associate Director and Medal Expert at Dix Noonan Webb explained:

The V.C is to be sold together with a substantial associated archive of historical importance -items of particular significance including: Grant's unpublished leather bound 'Officer's FieldNote and Sketch Book and Reconnaissance Aide-Memoire' in which he meticulously recordsthe march to Manipur and the capture and subsequent defence of Thobal, illustrated byseveral detailed sketches of both actions and positions; and a file of original letters, includingthe negotiations between Grant and the Manipuris and a coded message from Grant in Greekcharacters to the relief force.

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration, awarded for valour in the face of theenemy. Since its introduction in 1856 there have been 1354 recipients. Charles JamesWilliam Grant was the 406th recipient.

For more information, see:
https://www.dnw.co.uk/

To read the complete article, see:
Sidmouth's Hero of Manipur's Victoria Cross to be auctioned(https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/victoria-cross-auction-8041548)