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

The Sutlej and Indian Mutiny medals to Captain C. W. Radcliffe, 7th Bengal Light Cavalry, hero of Chinhut when in command of the Volunteer Light Cavalry, later mortally wounded during the siege of Lucknow

(a) Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846 (Lieut. C. W. Radcliffe, 7th Regt. L.C.)

(b) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Captain C. W. Radcliffe, 7th Bengal Light Cav.) naming officially impressed in a slightly later style, the first very fine, the last nearly extremely fine £4000-5000

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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Charles Wilbraham Radcliffe was the third son of the Rev. Edmund Stringfellow Radcliffe, LL.B., rector of Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, and his wife Frances, youngest daughter of John Ford of Berkhampstead Castle, Hertfordshire. Born on 23 May 1820, he was educated at Rugby under Dr. Arnold, and was nominated for the Bengal Cavalry by C. Mills, Esq., on the recommendation of his uncle, C. B. Ford, Esq.

He embarked for India in the Abercromby Robinson on 16 January 1839, and eight days later was appointed Cornet. On his arrival in India in May, he was directed to do duty with the 8th Bengal Cavalry at Cawnpore. A year later he was removed at his own request to the 7th Light Cavalry at Meerut, and, in July 1841, was appointed Adjutant. Promoted Lieutenant on 11 January 1842, he was appointed to officiate as second in command of the 4th Irregular Cavalry in January 1845, and in July to serve as Adjutant of the 8th Irregular Cavalry. Advanced to second in command of the latter regiment, he served in the first Sikh War and was present at Sobroan on 10 February 1846. In May 1848, he was granted two years leave to the Cape, and, in 1853, became Captain. The eve of the Mutiny found him with his parent regiment at Lucknow.

At the firing of the 9 o’clock gun on the evening of 30 May 1857, musketry and shouting were heard in the native cantonments and infantry lines. The 7th Cavalry, about 150 sabres, was immediately turned out at the Moodkeepore cavalry station, and formed up into three troops by Radcliffe and other officers. On wheeling into line about thirty Sowars broke ranks and rode furiously towards the cantonments. They were not seen again and presumably joined other mutineers who lurked for most of the following month in eastern Oudh. The rest of the regiment was led off at a canter towards the race-course, to patrol around the Residency.

Having found all safe in the vicinity of the Machi Bhawan, they were joined at 3 o’clock in the morning by the 4th Troop under Captain Boileau who had been away at Chinhut. Radcliffe and the regiment then went to the 32nd Foot’s parade ground and took up a position on the right of the troops assembled under Sir Henry Lawrence, who directed the 7th to proceed back to Moodkeepore which was reported to be in the hands of mutineers.

At the race-course, the 7th B.L.C. were confronted by about a thousand armed mutineers, and Colonel Master ordered his Sowars to form a line to the front and take ground to the right, which Radcliffe thought was done rather ‘sullenly’. Another thirty or forty men, having been beckoned over by a rebel with a green standard, broke out from the ranks and galloped off to join the mutineers. A message was sent back to Lawrence requesting some guns and for a moment it looked as if the remains of the regiment might be overwhelmed. But the guns arrived soon after and the rebels were dispersed. The regiment returned to Moodkeepore to find that Lieutenant Raleigh, a recently joined officer who had been too ill to ride out the night before, had been brutally murdered in front of the 1st Troop’s lines.

The 105 or so loyal troopers of the 7th Bengal Light Cavalry who had elected to stay with their officers were given two months pay on 12 June and told to go to their homes on furlough until 15 October. The regiment’s horses were marched into the Residency at midday, and that evening Radcliffe and the other officers, European and native, repaired with the standards to the Baillie Guard, opposite which the horses were picketed. On the same evening, Radcliffe was called out to deal with some mutineers threatening La Martinière College following the desertion of the native military police guard. A few days earlier Sir Henry Lawrence had appointed Radcliffe to the command of a body of Volunteer Cavalry, consisting of cavalry and infantry officers and clerks belonging to the public offices and others. Forty sabres were collected in all and were drilled daily under a former Sergeant-Major of the 16th Lancers, Mr Bryson (Ritchie 1-99). The rebels in the Martinière park were quickly dispersed.




On the 28th, Radcliffe’s cavalry covered an operation to bring in treasure and a large gun from the King of Oudh’s palace. On the 29th, Lawrence, learning that a body of rebels had collected at Chinhut, sent the Volunteer Cavalry off to ascertain the enemy’s strength. The reconnaissance was, however, a failure as the rebel commander had thrown out picquets. Consequently, next day, when Lawrence marched out to disperse them he had no idea that he was tackling a force ten times the size of his own. Various unfortunate delays and a burning sun made the march out extremely arduous and by the time the action started the British force was exhausted. The rebels soon gained the upper hand and commenced a successful out-flanking movement. The Sikh cavalry bolted as did most of the native artillery drivers, water-carriers and dhoolie-bearers. The 32nd Foot, the backbone of the Lucknow garrison, were exhausted, having been under arms for many days and nights, and were greatly disheartened at the sight of their commanding officer being shot down as he led them against a native village. Lawrence’s column started back in full retreat, and before long the retreat became a rout.

On nearing the Kokrail Bridge, Lawrence checked the enemy infantry’s pursuit by bringing one of his remaining guns into action, and ordering the portfire to be lit. It was but a feint, there was no ammunition left. Meanwhile, a 500-strong body of rebel horse with two 9-pounder guns, was massing by the bridge ready to cut the line of retreat. Accordingly, Lawrence ordered the Volunteer Cavalry to charge the rebel horse. ‘Lawrence’s Volunteer Cavalry had ridden out of Lucknow that morning thirty-six strong and few of them had been under fire before. Captain Radcliffe, 7th Light Cavalry, gave the orders, “Threes Right!”, “Trot!”, and the troop swept forward. When they were within a quarter of a mile of the enemy the two 9-pounders opened fire, but as the first round shot screamed overhead Radcliffe gave the order “Charge!”, and the trumpet sounded above the din of the cannonade and musketry, The thirty-six sabres rode straight for the enemy squadrons, who did not wait for them but galloped away, guns and all; the bridge was cleared and the road to Lucknow was still open.’

Had this charge failed, even fewer of Lawrence’s column, 600-strong at the beginning of the day, would have made it back to the Residency. As it was the force suffered 398 killed or missing and 78 wounded, leaving a total of 1,720 combatants and 1,280 non-combatants to endure the seige. Radcliffe’s vital contribution to the withdrawal from Chinhut was not lost on Lawrence. Brigadier Inglis later wrote in his despatch: ‘Sir Henry particularly mentioned that he would bring to the favourable notice of his Lordship in Council the gallant conduct of Capt. Radcliffe to the prominent notice of the Government of India’ (London Gazette 16 January 1858).

Radcliffe served in the Cawnpore Battery for nearly three months, only to be mortally wounded on the eve of the First Relief. Inglis acknowledged his services with others whose gallant conduct marked them out; ‘It only remains for one to bring to the favourable notice of his Lordship in Council the names of those Officers who have most distinguished themselves, and afforded me the most valuable assistance in these operations. Many of the best and bravest of these now rest from their labours ... Among them Captain Radcliffe ... ’ (London Gazette 16 January 1858).

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); IOL L/MIL/10/32 & 64; !IOL L/MIL/10/37; IOL L/MIL/10/39; IOL L/MIL/10/41; IOL L/MIL/10/45; Defence of Lucknow: A Diary recording the Daily Events During the Siege of the European Residency by a Staff Officer (Wilson); The Mutinies in Oudh (Gubbins); Ordeal at Lucknow (Joyce). The Seventh Rajput Regiment in The Indian Mutiny of 1857 (Tindall); A History of the British Cavalry, Vol II, (Anglesey).