Campaign Groups and Pairs


Served with his regiment in the moveable column under Coll. Greathead and was present in the action of Bolundeshur 28th September, succeeding to the command when the gallant Capt. Drysdale fell severely wounded; affair of Allyghur 5th October, and battle of Agra 10th October; commanded the cavalry of the rear guard under Lt. Coll. Ewart, H.M’s 93rd Highlanders on the 14th November, during Sir Colin Campbell’s advance from Alum Bagh to 2nd relief of Lucknow. From 16th to 22nd November under Brigr. Little guarding stores at Dilkoosha and defending rear of Army. In command of 2nd Squadron, present with regiment at battle of Cawnpore 6th December, and subsequent pursuit of enemy and capture of 15 guns at Surajpore Ghat by Brigr. Genl. Hope Grant, C.B. Present with Hd. Qrs. of regiment at Khudagunge on 2nd January 1858, and subsequent occupation of Futtyghur. Present at the taking of the fort at Meangunge in command of 2 Squadrons on the 23rd February 1858; present with his regiment at the storm and capture of Lucknow in March 1858.’


Anson’s life was probably saved by Captain Charles Gough of Hodson’s Horse at the action at Meangunge, one of four instances of gallantry that led to the award of his Victoria Cross: ‘Fourthly, for gallantry on the 23rd February, at Meangunge, where he came to the assistance of Brevet Major O. H. St. George Anson, and killed his opponent, immediately afterwards cutting down another of the enemy in the same gallant manner.’


The following description of the action at Meangunge is extracted from the regimental history by Major E. W. Shepherd: ‘Pending the completion of the final preparations for the general offensive against Lucknow, the advance guard of the Army under Hope Grant established itself on the east bank of the Ganges, and employed its energies in dispersing the various small isolated bands of rebels still at large to the west of the Lucknow-Cawnpore road. The whole of this area was soon cleared, and after the capture of the old walled town of Meanganj on February 24th, the Ninth got well among the fleeing garrison as they sought wildly to escape. Captain Anson wrote of this episode: “No resistance was offered and no sooner were the infantry well into the place than the enemy came pouring out in all directions, and then our fun commenced. We cantered about three-quarters of a mile, when, coming within range of their muskets, we gave a shout and charged with all our might. In a minute we were in the middle of them. I nearly tumbled off my horse in a vain attempt to cut down a man who dodged me, then deliberately proceeded to shoot me. However, I went at another, but he dodged me too, and stood at bay with his drawn tulwar inviting me to come on. I was just preparing for a rush when Gough came charging down and felled him was a powerful blow on his head. Fawcett’s horse then tumbled in consequence of a man running right between his legs. Fawcett got up, cut the man’s head open, and mounted up again just in time to charge with me and nine or ten men through a patch of trees alive with brutes hiding in it. There were fourteen men killed in it. Evans of his troop started off with eight men after some of the wretches and killed about sixty, Evans himself, armed with a lance, killed seven, and each of the men seven or eight. Cole, also was armed with a lance, being used to pigsticking, killed two right and left with great skill just before he lost his horse. After this exploit the force moved on across Bunni bridge to Bantheera, to join the main body of the army in its advance on Lucknow.”


The 9th Lancers saw more action than any other British regiment of cavalry during the Indian Mutiny, but, of its 38 officers who received the medal, only nine gained all three clasps. All this service took its toll on Anson and, in March 1858, he retreated to the hills on Medical Certificate to recuperate but his health failed and he died early in 1859, ‘At Deyrah Dhoon, on the 14th Jan., Octavius Henry St George Anson, Brevet-Major of Her Majesty’s 9th Lancers, second surviving son of the late Gen. Sir George Anson, G.C.B., from the great fatigue and exposure during the late mutiny, having served all through the Punjab and Gwalior campaigns, also from the siege of Delhi to the fall of Lucknow.’


In 1896 one of Anson’s sons published the letters his father had written to his mother under the title With H.M. 9th Lancers during the Indian Mutiny. An original copy of this book is included with Anson’s group of medals.


96


Pair: Sergeant James Godwin, 50th Foot, late 3rd Foot and later 53rd Foot


Punniar Star 1843 (Serjt. James Godwin, H.M. 50th Queen’s Own) fitted with contemporary replacement bar suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 3 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon (..rj. James Godwin 50th Regt.) considerable edge bruising and contact pitting, therefore fair to fine (2)


£600-£800


James Godwin was born in 1815 in the Parish of Rudgely, Staffordshire, and attested for the 3rd Foot at Coventry on 6 December 1834, aged 19. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 January 1841, and to Sergeant on 12 May 1842. He transferred to the 50th Foot as a Sergeant on 1 May 1843, and fought with the regiment at the battle of Punniar on 29 December 1843 (Star). He fought throughout the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46 and was wounded at the battle of Ferozeshuhur on 21 December 1845 (Medal with 3 clasps). On 14 December 1846, he volunteered to the 53rd Foot and transferred to that regiment in the rank of Private the following day. He was promoted to his former rank of Sergeant on 29 December 1846 and served with the 53rd in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49 (Medal). Sergeant Godwin was discharged at Chatham on 15 December 1845, ‘for the purpose of serving on the Staff of the Royal Wiltshire Militia.’ He ‘is in possession of the Medal for Good Conduct, also three Medals for service in the field.’


Sergeant Godwin’s Punjab medal, named to his in the 53rd Foot, was sold in these rooms on 2 December 1992. Sold with copied discharge papers.


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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