Single Campaign Medals


Greathed served in the city for the next five days, and was selected by Archdale Wilson to command the 2,500-strong moveable column which left Delhi on 24 September to pursue mutineers fleeing into Oudh. Having evacuated the column’s wounded to Meerut after the action at Boolundshuhur, Greathed resumed his march on 3 October, hoping to effect a junction with Sir Henry Havelock’s column and assist in the relief of the beleaguered garrison at Lucknow. On the 8th, however, Greathed decided to go to Bryjgarh in order to move closer to Agra, from which place he had been receiving a stream of urgent letters in ‘every language, living and dead ... beseeching, commanding him to hasten at the utmost speed’ to protect the European families, who, fearing attack by a large force of rebels concentrating at Muttra, had incarcerated themselves in the fort. Aware that the detour would prevent him from linking up with Havelock, Greathed felt unable to ignore the pleas and he marched at midnight on the 8th, preceded by his cavalry and horse artillery. But after thirty-six hours word was received that the enemy no longer threatened Agra, and had withdrawn over the Kalle Nuddee, a stream about ten miles away.


‘When Greathed arrived in Agra the panic had subsided. Most of the mutineers who had arrived at Muttra from Delhi had dispersed to their homes. The others, whose reported approach upon Agra had been responsible for the flood of letters handed to Greathed during his march up the Grand Trunk Road, were now said to have retired nine miles. The column was ‘not really needed’, after all. Thus it was that the ladies, looking down upon it from the walls of the fort, watched it pass with expressions of disgust at its dirtiness rather than gratitude for its prompt arrival. Greathed took his men to the parade-ground south of the fort where some went immediately to sleep while others had their breakfast, bargained with native vendors, or talked to the soldiers of the garrison who had come down from the fort. ‘It seemed like a fair more than anything else’.


The carnival atmosphere was shortlived, however. Quite unexpectedly a band of rebels disguised as jugglers turned on their audience of 9th Lancers, while elsewhere on the parade-ground the quarter guard of the same regiment was attacked by rebel Sowars wearing uniform similar to the 2nd Punjab Cavalry. Two troops of rebel cavalry thundered out of the high crops which bordered the parade- ground and heavy guns opened fire on the camp. ‘Although taken so completely by surprise, the British troops reacted with a promptness and energy that one observer described as ‘simply astonishing’. An officer galloped off to the fort to fetch Greathed who had gone there for breakfast; the infantry rushed to seize their arms; the cavalry to saddle their horses. The Bengal Artillery, though in quarters ‘never the most amiable or the best disciplined’ of troops, demonstrated once more that on service they were certainly inferior to none’. The shot were coming in pretty fast,’ Captain Barter wrote, ‘and it was really beautiful to see the artillery prepare for service. Their guns were all in park and the horses unharnessed and yet it was perfectly marvellous the rapidity with which they got into action, the enemy shot all the time rattling amongst the guns and limbers. Within minutes the British force was ready to repel the attack, many of the 75th in their shirt-sleeves, some of the 9th Lancers still in their stockinged feet. The troops in the fort marched out to support them, wearing bright new uniforms’, fifes playing, drums beating, bayonets gleaming in the sunlight, making the walls ‘re-echo with the tramp of footsteps as they fell to the time of the music’.


The column rested near Agra for four days before continuing towards Lucknow. Greathed subsequently commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the army under Sir Colin Campbell from 10 November to 9 January 1858, taking part in the relief of Sir James Outram’s force at Dilkusha, and the defeat of Tantia Tope at Cawnpore on 6 December 1857. He was created a Companion of the Bath on 1 January 1858 and was promoted Colonel on the 19th following. Advanced to Knight Commander of the Bath in 1865, Greathed returned to England in 1859, and was placed on Half-Pay until 1872, when he was appointed to the command of the Eastern District for five years. In 1880 he was made Colonel of the H.M’s 108th (Madras) Regiment of Foot and promoted General. He died at the family home in Dorset on 19 November 1881.


499


China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Canton 1857, Fatshan 1857, clasp block loose on riband (G. Mitchell. R.M.) contemporarily engraved naming, edge nicks, very fine


£200-£240


500


China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Josh. Bewsey, 1st Bn. 2nd Regt.) officially impressed naming, contact marks, otherwise very fine


£340-£380


Joseph Bewsey was born in Kinsale, Ireland in 1831 and enlisted into the 2nd Foot on 24 June 1856. Promoted Corporal almost immediately, he was demoted and promoted numerous times throughout his career. In 1864 his changed his name to Robert Chilton, reason unknown, and in this year was noted as serving as School Master in the 2nd Battalion. He was clearly an educated man, perhaps running away from something.


501


Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Pte. J. Frederick, 16th. Bn.) good very fine £160-£200


x502


Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Gr. J. A. Musgrove, Coburg. G.A.) nearly extremely fine £200-£240


x503


Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Sgt. J. Gamble, Bowmansville R. Co.) good very fine £200-£240


x504


Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Sgt. J. M. Campbell Perth R. Co.) light contact marks, good very fine


£200-£240 www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


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