Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

The campaign pair to Colonel W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry

(a) India General Service 1854-94, 3 clasps, Umbeyla, North West Frontier, Jowaki 1877-8 (Lieut. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry)

(b) Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Kabul, Kandahar (Maj. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infy.) about good very fine (2) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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William Benjamin Aislabie joined the Indian Army as an Ensign on 20 December 1859, becoming Lieutenant in the 3rd Sikh Infantry on 23 November 1861. He served throughout the Umbeyla campaign of 1863, including the actions of 15th and 16th December; and with the same regiment in the Hazara campaign of 1868, including the expedition against the tribes on the Black Mountain.

In the last days of August 1877, Aislabie took command of the regiment during the Jowaki Expedition, his commanding officer, Colonel Mocatta, having succeeded to the command of the force which, consisting of the 1st Sikhs and 4th Punjab Infantry in addition to the 3rd Sikhs, was to make a demonstration through the Tortung Pass towards Gumbut. The operation involved some skirmishing and cost the life of one man of the 3rd Sikhs and five wounded before returning to Kohat next day. In September, Aislabie, in command of a detachment of 220 rifles, relieved a similar party of the 1st Sikhs at Gundiali and was employed for a fortnight in heavy patrolling duty from Gumbut. At the end of the month he commanded 447 rifles, and together with the 1st Sikhs, covered the building of a fort at Gundiali. Three men were wounded.

In the autumn the Jowaki Afridis turned up the heat, attacking tribes between Peshawar and Kohat. Two ‘Piffer’ punitive columns were organised under Brigadier-Generals Keyes and Ross. The 3rd Sikhs advanced with the main force (the Kohat Column) under the former and on 1 December 1877 attacked and captured Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the Jowaki Afridis. The tribesmen fled into the hills and the Jowaki headmen sought peace. But they found the terms unacceptable and hostilities were resumed until the the tribesmen were utterly defeated by 250 British cavalry on 15 February. Aislabie was subsequently thanked for his services in Keyes despatch (GO No.738 of 9 August 1878) in the following terms:

‘The command of the 3rd Sikh Infantry devolved, in the absence of Colonel Mocatta and Major Money [see Lot 103], on Captain W. B. Aislabie, who carried out the duty in the advance on Piah, the advance on the Dargai heights and operations at Narel Kula to my entire satisfaction and with much credit to himself.’

On 6 September 1879 at the renewal of hostilities in the Second Afghan War, Aislabie accompanied his regiment from Bunnoo to Kurram. On the 20th orders were received for the march to the Shuturgardan Pass on the road to Kabul which the regiment was to defend with distinction. The pass was reached on the 25th and Aislabie was duly present at the repulses of the enemy with heavy loss on 2 and 14 October. On the latter occasion, ‘A large body of tribesmen had, for a short time, commanded the British position and broken its telegraphic communication with the Kuram. Major C. J. Griffiths, who went out with 250 Sikhs to dislodge the enemy, was wounded early in the engagement, but his men, led by Captain W. B. Aislabie, drove the tribesmen from the heights with the loss of their main standard, captured by Jemadar Gunesa Sing, and of two or three hundred killed and wounded, whilst, including Griffiths and Signalling-Sergeant Browne, the victors had only eight men wounded.’ With this heavy engagement the Afghans were totally routed and pursued for two miles though not dispersed.

Following the abandonment of the Shutargardan on 30 October and the regiment’s arrival at Kabul, Aislabie took part in the defeat of the Afghans by Macpherson’s brigade in the Chardeh valley on 10 December, and again on the 11th when Massy’s guns were recovered. On the 13th when 400 men of the 92nd Highlanders, the Corps of Guides, and 300 rifles of the 3rd Sikhs, under Brigadier-General T. D. Baker (qv) marched out from the Sherpur cantonment to attack and carry the Takht-i-Shah peak, Aislabie went up the spur with 100 rifles as escort to No.3 Mountain Battery. In the afternoon next day, ‘the enemy attacked a strong picket left on the conical hill below Asmai heights and succeeded in driving the defenders away with the loss of 2 mountain guns, following them down into the plains. The 100 rifles under Captain Aislabie were ordered at the double to check the enemy and cover the retirement. The 3rd Sikhs formed skirmishing order, passed through our retirement, engaged the enemy and drove them up the hill ... In this affair all ranks behaved with coolness and gallantry.’

Between 14 and 23 December Aislabie served in the defence of Sherpur. Promoted to Field Rank on 20 December, he was appointed Wing Commander in his corps on the same date, vice Major Griffiths. In May 1880 he accompanied the regiment into the Logar, Wardak, and Maidan valleys to collect supplies and destroy refractory Ghilzai villages. In August he took part in the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar and was present at the crushing defeat of Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September. For services in the Afghan War of 1878-80, he was three times mentioned in Roberts’ despatches, received the Medal with two clasps and the Bronze Star.

In November 1880 the 3rd Sikhs arrived at Dera Ghazi Khan and occupied the Right Infantry lines, and on the departure of Colonel Money on sick furlough to Europe, Aislabie was appointed to officiate as second in command. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel he finally became Commandant of his corps in December 1887 on the retirement of Major Griffiths. ‘ByGGO dated 15th March , Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Aislabie was permitted to retire from the service with effect from 18th March [1889] and was struck off the strength of the Regiment.’

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); Historical Records of the 3rd Sikh Infantry 1847-1930 (Shepherd); The Afghan Campaign of 1878-1880 (Shadbolt); The Second Afghan War (Hanna).