The campaign group of three to Colonel Wellesley Campbell, Bengal Army, an original defender at Lucknow, later 14th Ferozepore Sikhs

(a) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Ensn. W. Campbell, 71st Regt. N.I.)

(b) India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Jowaki 1877-8 (Major W. Campbell, 14th Bengal N.I.)

(c) Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Major W. Campbell, 14th Ben. N.I.) suspension claw repaired on the first, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Collection

Ex Barker collection 1950.

Wellesley Campbell was born at Meerut on 20 March 1839, son of Colonel Colin Campbell of Tyndrum, Co. Perth, late 53rd Bengal N.I. He was appointed Ensign in the 71st Bengal Native Infantry at Lucknow on 4 March 1857. Three months later, on Sunday, 31 May, he was marching out to the Lucknow race-course to drive off the men of his regiment who the night before had mutined and run amok in the civil lines. He served throughout the defence of the Residency, and following the arrival of of the first Relief Force on 25 September, served as a Volunteer with H.M’s 78th Highlanders. Late on the 26th, he accompanied a force, under Colonel Robert Napier, consisting of a hundred of the 78th, a hundred of H.M’s 32nd, and some troopers of the 3rd Oudh Irregular Cavalry, which was sent out to the Mootee Munzil to bring in Havelock’s and Outram’s sick, wounded, heavy guns and ammunition, left behind with the relieving force’s rear guard. That night, at considerable personal risk, he was sent back to the Residency to report to Outram that more dhoolies were required for the sick and wounded.

After the final relief of Lucknow, he served with the army under Sir Colin Campbell and was present at the re-capture of Cawnpore from the Gwalior Contingent. Promoted Lieutenant on 30 April 1858, he served successively with the 16th (Lucknow) Regiment of N.I., the 44th Sylhet Light Infantry, and the 25th Punjab Native Infantry. He commanded a detachment of the 44th Sylhet Light Infantry in the rebellion in the Cossyah and Jynteah Hills, 1862-63, and, in January 1862, received the thanks of the Government of Bengal for saving records and treasure from being destroyed by lightning while in temporary charge of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Khasiah and the Jaintiah Hills.

In 1864 he was with the 5th Bengal Police Battalion and by 1868 he was serving with the 14th (The Ferozepore) Regiment of Native Infantry, (14th Sikhs). He became Captain on 4 March 1870, and Major exactly seven years later. In 1877-78 he took part with his regiment in the campaign against the Jowaki Afridis as part of the force under Brigadier C. C. G. Ross, and at the start of the Afghan War of 1878 was present with the 14th Sikhs at the taking of Ali Musjid, the passage of the Khyber Pass and the advance on Dakha. Campbell became Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 April 1879, and officiated as Base Commanding Officer at Ferozepore in the Commissary Department for seven months during the second campaign. In 1884 he was commanding the North Bengal Volunteer Rifle Corps. Colonel Campbell died at Calcutta on 2 February 1886, and was buried the following day in the Military Cemetery with full military honours, the firing party formed by men of the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment.

Refs: Ubique - War Services; IOL L/MIL/10/92.