Indian Mutiny interest. An identified, decorated Bengal Artillery Officer, 1860s.

 A good carte de visite by J. J. Young, Jnr., Sheerness  showing the decorated Artillery officer full length wearing frock coat with a miniature Mutiny medal with 2 clasps, very slight damage to the lower right corner of the margin. The card has a contemporary identification on the reverse in blue pencil Major Dirom, Royal Artillery. Thomas Alexander Pasley Dirom joined the Bengal Artillery in 1848, promoted Lieutenant March 1857, Captain August 1858, Major 1864, Lt Col. 1862. This portrait was taken in the1860 after the Bengal Artillery was merged into the Royal Artillery. Identified portraits of officers of this era are becoming considerably harder to find.      jan13/1

Hart’s Army List 1875 lists Dirom as a Lt. Colonel retired on full and gives the following record of his service: Lt. Colonel Dirom served throughout the siege and capture of Delhi; also at the capture of Meeanagunge and Bareilly (three times mentioned in despatches, Medal with two Clasps, and Brevet of Major).