Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Duffadar Rumjan Khan, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (Trooper, 3rd Regt. Light C.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Tr., 3rd Regt. By. Cavy.); Abyssinia 1867-68 (Sowar) impressed naming but no unit given, suspension repaired; Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Kandahar (Duffr., 3d Regt. Bo. Light Cavy.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better and a very rare group (4) £600-800

The 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry participated in the Persian Campaign, taking part in the march to and from Boorzgoon, and was highly distinguished at the Battle of Khoosh-Ab on 8 February 1857, when a daring charge by a squadron of the regiment broke the square of Persian infantry. The success of the charge, in which Lieutenants Moore and Malcolmson won the Victoria Cross, greatly excited miltary experts as it was generally considered impossible for cavalry to break a square of steady infantry, although this had been achieved by British cavalry at Salamanca and Garcia Hernandez in the Peninsula War, and more recently at Aliwal. However, at Khoosh-Ab it was only time that the feat was accomplished by Indian cavalry; and with remarkably little loss.

During the Mutiny the regiment served in the Central India Field Force under Sir Hugh Rose and was present at the siege and capture of Rathgahr, the action at Barodia, the relief of Saugor, the siege and capture of Garakota, the affairs on the Jumna, the capture of Calpee, the advance on and capture of Gwalior, action at Morar, the Battle of Jowra-Alipur, and the action of Khow-Mohoni.

There was little opportunity for the regiment to distinguish itself during the Abyssinian campaign, the country and military objectives being unsuitable for cavalry. During the Afghan campaign the 3rd Bombay Cavalry was engaged at the disastrous battle of Maiwand. Broken up in detachments, and kept standing under a murderous fire for four hours, without a vestige of cover, the regiment underwent as severe an ordeal as any to which cavalry can be subjected; but the men remained perfectly steady in line, although shells and round shot were raking through their ranks. When the Ghazi rush took place, and the guns and infantry fell back, they formed up and charged to the best of their power, sweeping along the rear of the retreating infantry and cutting up the Ghazis, who were close upon and hacking down the sepoys. The 1st Bombay Grenadiers subsequently acknowledged publicly the great assistance rendered them by the 3rd Cavalry at this critical juncture. The regiment covered the retirement of the four Royal Horse Artillery guns from the field, keeping in perfect order during the trying night march, and was the last portion of the Brigade to cross the Argandab river. Its casualties in the battle were, 1 officer and 20 non-commissioned officers and men killed, and 2 officers and 19 non-commissioned officers and men wounded. 58 horses were also killed, and 42 wounded.