Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Sutlej campaign C.B. group of three awarded to Brevet Colonel G. S. Laurenson, Bengal Artillery

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1815, complete with wide gold swivel-ring and straight-bar suspension and riband buckle; Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieutt., (1st) Regt. of Arty.), short hyphen reverse, officially engraved naming in running script; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Major, 2nd Brigade H. Ay.), surname spelt ‘Lawrenson’ on the last, the first with slightly bent upper arm and consequent (minor) loss of enamel to reverse wreath, otherwise good very fine and rare (3) £3000-3500

Ex Tamplin collection, Sotheby 1985.

C.B. London Gazette 30 June 1846.

George Simson Laurenson was born in Kinnettles, Co. Forfar in February 1803, the son of a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 18th Light Dragoons. Educated privately and at St. Andrew’s and Addiscombe, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery in April 1819. Advanced to 1st Lieutenant in September 1821, he participated in the First Burma War with the detachment under Brigadier McCreagh, at onetime acting as Adjutant of the Bengal Artillery.

Steady advancement followed and he became a Major in September 1845, on the eve of the First Sikh War. Laurenson was appointed to the 2nd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery and was present at the battles of Aliwal and Sobraon. For his services at the former engagement he was mentioned in glowing terms in the despatch of Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., his leadership of the Horse Artillery causing ‘great havoc’ among the fleeing ranks of enemy infantry (London Gazette 27 March 1846 refers); and for his subsequent deeds at Sobraon he was mentioned in the despatch of General Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B. (London Gazette 1 April 1846). Laurenson was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed a C.B. He was promoted to Brevet Colonel in June 1854 and died at Cape Town in June 1856.