An extremely fine Scinde Campaign C.B. pair awarded to Major-General R. Henderson, Madras Sappers and Miners

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in gold and enamels, London hallmarks for 22 carat gold but no date letter, maker’s mark ‘WN’, circa 1845, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and gold riband buckle; Meeanee Hyderabad 1843 (Bt. Captn., Engrs.), fitted with hinged-bar suspension, contemporary engraved naming good very fine and better (2) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to The Royal Engineers.

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See Colour Plate II

C.B. London Gazette 27 February 1846.

Robert Henderson was born in August 1808, the son of Sir Robert Bruce Henderson, Bt., of Fifeshire. Following attendance at Addiscombe, he was commissioned into the Madras Engineers in December 1825 and arrived in India in July 1827. Quickly coming to the notice of his superiors for the quality of his work, he qualified in Hindoostanee in May 1833 and became an Adjutant in February of the following year. He also enjoyed extended leave back in England between 1837-39. Returning to India at the end of the latter year, Henderson was appointed to the command of ‘C’ Company of the Madras Sappers and Miners in December 1840.

Extensively engaged with his Company in the Scinde Campaign, he was present at the skirmish in the Bolan Pass under Major Simmons, 41st Regiment in April 1842; at the capture of Mahomed Shurreef in the Pishan Valley under Major Outram in July of the same year; at the second skirmish in the Bolan Pass that October; at the capture and destruction of Fort Inamgurh in January 1843; and at Major-General Sir Charles Napier’s crowning victories at Meeanee and Hyderabad later in the same year, by which time he had been given the Brevet of Captain.

In his Meeanee despatch, dated 5 March 1843, Napier mentioned Henderson in the following terms:

‘Captain Henderson, of the Madras Engineers, took a standard, and did good service with his excellent little band of Sappers and Miners, not only in this engagement but throughout the campaign.’

During the battle, most of Henderson’s men were armed with tools, but fourteen of them, under his direct leadership, and better equipped, became engaged with the enemy on the extreme right of the line, in the Shikargh. It was during the course of this action that Henderson climbed over an eight-foot wall to capture an enemy standard, dropping his sword in the process. Fortuitously, his Jemadar, close on his heels, recovered the weapon, and cut down one of the enemy who was closing on them.

Further approbation and reward for his part in the battle would follow, the Governor-General, Lord Ellenborough, writing to express his satisfaction and appointing him an Honorary A.D.C.

And in Napier’s Hyderabad despatch, dated 11 April 1843, Henderson gained yet further praise:

‘Nor must I omit to mention the labours of Captain Henderson and Lieutenants Outlaw and Boileau, with their hardy little band of Sappers, whose labours enabled the heavy 8-inch howitzers to come up into the action.’

Henderson finally parted company with Napier in early 1844, the General writing to him in the warmest terms, stating his sincere thanks for his ‘valour and good conduct ... in a long campaign’ and hoping that he would stay in contact with news of his ‘favourite little band of Sappers’. On a more official level, the General wrote of ‘C’ Company in the folllowing terms:

‘Captain Henderson and Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the Madras Sappers and Miners, you have earned laurels in Scinde. No troops have more honourably conducted themselves in all the glories of the Bombay Army. You leave the country regretted by your companions. You have served under my immediate command for a year and a half. Your labours during our march into the desert were greater than those of any other soldiers and were undertaken with spirit. You did your duty bravely in the Battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad. In the former of these two actions you were conspicuously placed and nobly acquitted yourselves. I regret to lose you but justice to you after your hard service has made me send you to your own homes where an honourable reception awaits you. Go where you will, you will be attended with my sincere regards and my heartfelt respect. To my friend, Captain Henderson, I have given a letter for the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army that his Lordship may be aware of your worth.’

Henderson was advanced to Major in April 1845 and awarded the C.B. in the following year, both rewards for his conspicuous services in Scinde. Remaining in India for several more years, he was advanced to full Colonel in November 1856 and finally retired, in the honorary rank of Major-General, in September 1861.

NB: The Henderson family papers are lodged in the Indian Army Records at the British Library, an archive that includes the recipient’s original surveys and plans for Meeanee and Hyderabad, in addition to his correspondence and journals connected with the operations in the Scinde from 1840-44 - a copy of his official report on his Company’s movements accompanies the Lot.