Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major-General C. E. Cumberland, Royal Engineers, later Commanding Royal Engineer, Jersey

Crimea 1854-56, no clasp (Captn., R.E.), contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Captn., 11th Compy.Ryl. Engrs.); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (Capt., R.E.), contemporary engraved naming, fitted with a ‘British Crimea style’ suspension, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £650-750

Ex D.N.W. 9 December 1999, lot 619.

Major General Charles Edward Cumberland was born in 1830. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and entered the Royal Engineers in 1847. He served in the Crimea from 13th September 1855, and was employed in the demolition of the Docks of Sebastopol, for which he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 February 1856). He served in the Indian campaign of 1857-59, was Commanding Engineer at the siege and fall of Fort Ahwah, and was present at the siege and capture of Kotah, where he conducted the first column at the assault. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 June 1858) and received the brevet of Major. He retired with the rank of Major General in December 1887, and was latterly Commanding Royal Engineer, Jersey. He was made a Companion of the Bath on 24 May 1881 and sat as a J.P. for the county of Kent. He died in July 1920.