Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Indian Mutiny C.B. pair awarded to Brigadier-General Edward Brice, commanding ‘F’ Troop, Madras Artillery

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1859, makers mark ‘WN’, complete with gold swivel bar suspension and ribbon buckle; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Bt. Major E. Brice, F. Tp. Madras Art.) good very fine £3,000-£3,600

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 March 1861.

Edward Brice was appointed Second Lieutenant, Madras Artillery, on 16 June 1826; First Lieutenant, Madras Artillery, 25 February 1828; Captain, by Brevet, 16 June 1841; Captain, Madras Artillery, 3 July 1845; Major, by Brevet, 20 June 1854; Lieutenant-Colonel, by Brevet, 20 July 1858; Lieutenant-Colonel, Madras Artillery, 5 November 1858; Colonel, Royal (Madras) Artillery, 25 September 1861; Inspector of Artillery with rank of Brigadier-General, from 1 November 1862.

Served in the expedition to Coorg in 1834 - was present at affair at crossing of the river, and Ramasamy, Kanaway, Beebaby, and Hunninghy; served also with the Saugor Field division under Major General Whitlock in 1858, was present at the affair at Kubrai 17th April 1858, and at the battle of Banda 19th April 1858. Brice commanded ‘F’ Troop, Madras Artillery, throughout the campaign in Central India.

The following extract is taken from the Memoirs of David Dinwiddie, who was Major Brice’s troop sergeant major:
‘To show you that all native troops during this time were not in open mutiny, I may mention that this very ‘F’ Troop when under the Command of Major Brice, in Secunderabad, was the means, under his well ordered plans, of keeping the large city of Hyderabad in awe and order, and under Providence, saved also the southern part of India from the fate of Bengal. For this important service, I believe, Major Brice received his military honours, and now, 1864, holds a good situation as Inspector of Artillery. Just think of the respect the native Mussel men of this Troop must have held their Commanding Officer in, when they fired at and killed a number of their own caste and countrymen at a moment when the whole city of fanatics were ready to break out at the slightest success of their leaders, and murder every man, woman, and child of European descent belonging to the garrison of Secunderabad, which is situated a few miles from the Residence of their King or Rajah, the Nizam. If the Sepoys in Hyderabad city had not been held in check by this native troop at this critical moment, the entire people of the country from Cape Comorin to the river Nurbuddah [Nerbudda], might have committed themselves, under the example of the Madras Native Army, which had been hourly expected to break out in open rebellion as had been the case in Bengal, in May and June the preceding year, viz., 1857.’