Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846 (Lieut. Henry T: Metge 29th Regt.) suspension re-fixed and no longer swivels, toned, nearly very fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker.

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Henry Torrens Metge was first commissioned as an Ensign into the 75th Foot on 28 January 1842, and exchanged into the 29th Foot on 13 October 1842. He served in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46 and was present at the battle of Sobraon (Medal). He served in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the Passage of the Chenab, and was very severely wounded at the battle of Chilianwala, 13 January 1849, when in command of the Light Company of the 29th, and died from his wounds on 19 January.

Colonel Mountain, C.B., in his Memoirs & Letters, writing on 19 January, states: ‘Poor Metge died of his wounds this morning. I had hoped he would live, for I saw him fall; and it pained me not to assist him; but we were under a tremendous fire, and all depended upon keeping up the charge. I could not have stopped for my brother. He was a fine young fellow, always foremost in any sport, as in the field. I saw him yesterday, and asked him if he saw me when he fell. He said Yes. I told him how sorry I was not to assist him, kissed his forehead, and commended him to God. His body was doomed. I trust his soul may, through Christ, have been accepted.’

Colonel Everard notes in Officers Services of the 29th Foot, 1694-1909: ‘When later on, the regiment passed near where Lt. Metge had been buried, his servant went to visit the grave, and found it had been disturbed; lying on the ground near by was a piece of the yellow facing, off the cuff of his late master’s shell jacket, this he brought away and subsequently gave it to Capt. Colvill of the regt. who gave it to me and it is now in a case with some fragments of our Sutlej and Punjab Colours, received from officers who had served under them.’ Sold with full research.