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

The Abyssinian C.B. group of four to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Chamberlain, Commandant 23rd Sikhs, youngest of the four Chamberlain brothers, who was wounded during the Mutiny and at the head of his regiment at Umbeyla, and eight times mentioned in despatches during his career

(a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., breast badge in 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1867, complete with gold ribbon buckle

(b) India General Service 1854-95, 3 clasps, Persia, North West Frontier, Umbeyla (Lieut. C. F. F. Chamberlain, 26th Regt. Bombay N.I.) the last two clasps contemporary tailor’s copies

(c) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Capt. C. Chamberlain)

(d) Abyssinia 1867 (Lieut. Coll. C. Chamberlain, 23rd Punjab Pioneers) good very fine
£3000-4000

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 Francis Falcon Chamberlain was the fourth and youngest son of Sir Henry Chamberlain, 1st Baronet, British Consul-General and Chargé d’Affaires at Rio de Janeiro, and his second wife, Anne Eugenia, the daughter of William Morgan of London. He was born at Baker Street, London, on 11 October 1826, and was nominated a Cadet for the Bombay Service by the Earl of Ripon on the recommendation of Charles Chaplin, Esq., in 1846, having previously held a commission in H.M’s 44th Regiment of Foot from August 1844 to June 1845. He disembarked at Bombay from the Duke of Cornwall on 18 June 1846, and was directed to do duty with the 9th Bombay Native Infantry at Nasik, but before the year was out, he exchanged at his own request with Lieutenant Dods in to the 26th Bombay N.I. at Ahmedabad. In April 1848, he was reported as having gained a colloquial proficiency in Hindustani and was noted as ‘a smart officer and attentive in his duties’. In May 1849, on the formation of the Punjab Frontier Force, he was appointed Adjutant of the 5th Punjab Cavalry. He joined the regiment at Mooltan and served with them on the Dera Ismail Khan frontier until March 1851, when he returned to Europe due to failing health.

On his return to India in 1853 he was promoted Lieutenant and rejoined the 26th Bombay N.I. at Ahmednuggur. He accompanied the regiment to Sattara in 1855 and was appointed Line Adjutant. In late 1856, the 26th Bombay N.I. were ordered to prepare for active service in Persia, and arrived in that country with the reinforcements under Sir James Outram in early 1857. Chamberlain subsequently took part in the forced march to Boorzgoon, where a large quantity of enemy stores were captured, and afterwards participated in the battle of Kooshab and was present at the capture of Mohammerah, which fell without the use of troops after naval bombardment. During the Persian Expedition he received the first of his eight mentions in despatches. He remained in Persia at Outram’s disposal until the June 1857, when he returned to India and was appointed to the command of the regimental depot at Poona. The regiment itself returned from Persia sometime later, and Chamberlain next accompanied it to Dhulia.

In early 1858, he took part in operations against the Bheels in the Deccan and was wounded at the battle of Mandawa. In March he was appointed Brigade-Major to the brigade of Scinde Irregular Horse, but in May was placed at the disposal of the Govenment of India which, in July, appointed him a Divisional Commandant of Police in Oudh. At the head of his police unit, he served throughout the final campaign in Oudh in 1858-59, taking part in the actions of Selimpur, Sandila, Jamo, Purwa, Simri, Bira and Daundia-Khera, ‘besides many minor affairs, and repeatedly distinguishing himself’. In the course of these services Chamberlain was mentioned in despatches no less than five times (Calcutta Gazette 10 & 27 November, 22 & 25 December, 1858, and 19 January 1859). He was further rewarded with promotion to Brevet Major on attaining the rank of Captain, which he did on being admitted to the Bombay Staff Corps in February 1861. He continued to serve with the Oudh Police until January 1862, when he was given command of the 23rd Punjab Pioneers, prior to being made officiating Commandant of the 15th Bengal Cavalry.



In October 1862, Sir Hugh Rose wrote to Chamberlain’s distinguished brother, Neville (See Lot 92): ‘You will be very glad to hear that your brother Charles did very well in the command of the Muzbees, as he deserves a reward for his excellent conduct in the field and was suited to the command of the Mooltanee Cavalry, I gave it to him.’ (Muzbee or Mazbi Sikhs were men of low caste who, though admitted as Sikhs, could never attain the full status of the true Sikh). Neville replied to Sir Hugh, ‘I was very glad to see my brother Charles appointed to Colonel Cureton’s regiment [later 15th (Cureton’s Multani) Regiment of Bengal Lancers], and I have every hope your Excellency will have cause to rest satisfied with the nomination.’ He also told the C-in-C, ‘I am here [in Delhi] on a visit to my brother Crawford (See Lot 94), and all four of us brothers managed to meet, not having done so for the past twenty-six years.’ The fourth and eldest brother was Colonel Thomas Chamberlain, a city Magistrate at Lucknow.

The fraternal reunion took place at Crawford’s house, and on 14 January 1863, Neville wrote to their mother from Government House, Lahore: ‘You will long ago have heard from others of the meeting of your four Indians at Delhi, but I do not think I can do better than refer to that happy event. The whole time we were together was one continued round of fun and mirth, and even when we left the drawing room we used to have a second meeting in Charlie’s room, and it was midnight ere we broke up. Our childhood’s pranks at school, and, I am ashamed to say, at home, - anything that gave a point to fun, was raked up and gone over again, and Hindoo Rao’s house never resounded before to such peals of laughter. Crawford and Charlie being of course the great promoters of it, whilst old Tom and I acted more as audience. In short, we were boys again.’

In November 1863, Charles Chamberlain returned to the command of the 23rd Pioneers and proceeded with them on field service in the Umbeyla Campaign against fanatics in the Sittana area. The campaign had been conducted by brother Neville, but now wounded in a counter-attack on Crag Piquet, the command passed to Major-General Gavrock. The 23rd Pioneers came up with reinforcements in early December, and although attempts had been made to bring the costly campaign to a close by negotiation it soon became clear that the dispute could only be settled by military means. This took place on 16 December with the 23rd Pioneers playing a leading role.

‘On the morning of the 16th, 400 sabres of the 11th Bengal Cavalry and Guide Corps, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dighton Probyn, V.C. [See Lot123], arrived from camp, and the order was given to advance towards the plain. On descending into the open country, after a tedious and difficult march, Wilde’s column, which was accompanied by Major-General Gavrock, found the enemy posted on a low ridge of hills which completely covered the approach to Umbeyla. The position was well chosen and strong, but the General, after a careful examination of the ground, determined to attack it and turn the enemy’s right. Turner’s column had now begun to descend into the plain on the enemy’s left, and they seeing a column in front, and this vital flank movement, abandoned their position, and moving along the edge of the hills made for the pass leading to Buner. Turner, who was now near the village of Umbeyla, was ordered to cut off the rear of the enemy from the pass. With the 23rd Pioneers and the 32nd Pioneers in line, and the left wing of the 1st Fusiliers in reserve, he advanced towards the hills. When the regiments arrived within about 800 yards of their base, the tribesmen opened a rattling fire upon them with their matchlocks and zamburaks. They went on returning the fire as they advanced. Turner now saw that large bodies of the enemy were moving to his right, and he promptly then placed two companies from the reserve of the 1st Fusiliers to cover his left flank. Probyn at the same time placed a body of his men so as to protect the left. But the ground was broken and covered with jungle, not fit for cavalry. At that moment some 250 blue-clad fanatics burst forth from a ravine, waving their banners and brandishing their swords. The Pioneers were checked for a moment by the sudden and desperate onslaught, but they soon turned on their assailants. A stubborn fight lasting about ten minutes followed and 200 fanatics were laid in the dust. Lieutenant Alexander was killed and Major Wheeler, Captain Charles Chamberlain, Lieutenants Noll and Marsh wounded. General Gavrock in his dispatch writes: ‘I would draw His Excellency’s attention to the mention made by the Brigadier of the good service rendered by the 23rd Pioneers under the command of Captain Chamberlain, who was wounded at its head, displaying the accustomed courage of those who bear his name.’

At the conclusion of the Umbeyla campaign, Chamberlain went with his regiment to Peshawar where it served, apart from three months at Cherat, until October 1867, when he took it to Calcutta and embarked for service in the Abyssinian Campaign, being present at the action at Arogi and the capture of Magdala. Returning with the regiment to India in June of the following year, he was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and created a Companion of the Bath on 14 August 1868. He and his Pioneers were principally employed in 1869-70, road building in the Agror Valley and at other places in Hazara. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Chamberlain died suddenly on 31 October 1870, at Ambala whilst on leave.

Refs: IOL L/MIL/9/213; IOL L/MIL/12/74 - 82; Bombay Almanac and Directory, 1856-1870; Modern English Biography (Boase); Soldiers of the Raj (De Rhé-Philipe) Life of Field Marshal Sir Neville Chamberlain (Forrest).