Auction Catalogue
Create new listThe magnificent Indian Mutiny V.C. group awarded to General Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.V.O., I.S.O., Probyn’s Horse, later Comptroller and Treasurer of the Royal Household
(a) Victoria Cross, the reverse of the suspension bar inscribed ‘Capt. Dighton M. Probyn 2nd Punjab Cavalry’, the reverse of the cross undated
(b) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) G.C.B., sash badge in silver-gilt and enamels with appliqué centres in gold and enamels; and breast star in silver with appliqué centre in gold and enamels
(c) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Civil) G.C.B., sash badge in silver-gilt, hallmarked London 1900; and breast star in silver with appliqué centre in silver-gilt and enamels
(d) The Royal Victorian Order, G.C.V.O., sash badge in silver-gilt and enamels; and breast star in silver, silver-gilt and enamels
(e) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1843, complete with swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle, some chips to enamels
(f) The Imperial Service Order, I.S.O., E.VII.R., silver, gold and enamels
(g) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Major D. M. Probyn, 2nd Punjab Cavy.) ‘2nd’ officially re-impressed over ‘1st’
(h) China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Major D. M. Probyn, C.B. 11th Bengal Cavy.)
(i) India General Service 1854-94, 2 clasps, North West Frontier, Umbeyla (Captn. & Adjt. D. M. Probyn, 2nd Punjab Cavy.) the V.C. together with these three campaign medals are on a contemporary court mounting, probably as worn but pin now lacking, to facilitate this form of mounting the connecting ring of the cross has been soldered and the carriages of all the clasps adapted
(j) Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, silver, unnamed
(K) Coronation 1902, silver, unnamed
(l) Coronation 1911, unnamed(m) Prince of Wales’ Visit to India 1875-76, silver, by Phillips Brothers, London, 55.5mm x 83mm, the edge impressed ‘No. 184’; together with a small oval silver medal for the same occasion
(m) Prince of Wales’ Visit to India 1875-76, silver, by Phillips Brothers, London, 55.5mm x 83mm, the edge impressed ‘No. 184’; together with a small oval silver medal for the same occasion
(n) Germany, Empire, Hesse, Order of Philip, Grand Cross badge, 60mm, gold and enamels; and breast star, 84mm, silver, gold and enamels
(o) Germany, Empire, Prussia, Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class badge, 58mm, gold and enamels, marked ‘W’ on lower arm of cross; and breast star, 88mm, silver, gilt and enamels
(p) Greece, Kingdom, Order of the Redeemer, 2nd Class badge, 72mm x 42mm, gold and enamels; and breast star, 72mm, silver, gold and enamels, the reverse with maker’s cartouch of Le Maitre, Paris
(q) Hawaii, Royal Order of Kalakua, breast star, 74mm, silver, gold and enamels, maker’s mark ‘FH WB’ stamped on reverse
(r) Portugal, Kingdom, Order of the Tower and Sword, breast star, 75mm x 65mm, worked entirely in gold and enamels, enamels chipped and flaked in several places
(s) Russia, Empire, Order of St Anne, by Keibel, St Petersburg, 1st Class sash badge, 50mm, gold and enamels; and breast star, 90mm, silver, gilt and enamels
(t) Turkey, Empire, Order of Osmanieh, 2nd Class badge, 92mm x 65mm, gold, silver and enamels; and breast star, 87mm, silver, gold and enamels, unless otherwise described the awards contained in General Probyn’s group are very fine or better £120000-150000
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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Ex Christies, July 1997, the property of the Rt. Hon. Lord Dunboyne, when it was stated that ‘two other undated Crosses have been recorded, both from the same gazette.’ In fact, several more recent examples are known of undated crosses where the award encompasses several separate acts of gallantry over a period of time, for example the cross awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Nasmith for his exploits in H.M. Submarine E.11 during May and June 1915, which is known to be undated. It will be noted below that Hope-Grant’s despatch, which was the basis for the award of Probyn’s V.C., actually quotes no specific dates.
Victoria Cross London Gazette 18 June 1858: ‘Dighton Macnaghten Probyn, Captain (now Major), 2nd Punjab Cavalry. Has been distinguished for gallantry and daring throughout this Campaign. At the Battle of Agra, when his squadron charged the rebel Infantry, he was sometimes separated from his men and surrounded by five or six Sepoys. He defended himself from the various cuts made at him, and, before his own men had joined him, had cut down two of his assailants. At another time, in single combat with a Sepoy, he was wounded in the wrist by a bayonet, and his horse also slightly wounded; but, though the Sepoy fought desperately, he cut him down. The same day he singled out a standard-bearer, and, in the presence of a number of the enemy, killed him and captured the standard. These are only a few of the gallant deeds of this brave young officer.’
Dighton Macnaghten Probyn was born in Marylebone, London, on 21 January 1833, and was the son of Captain George Probyn, R.N., an Elder of Trinity House, and Alicia, the daughter of Sir Francis Workman Macnaghten, of Bushmills, Co. Antrim. He entered the light cavalry arm of the Bengal Service and was posted Cornet in the 6th Light Cavalry in 1849. In 1852, he was appointed Adjutant of the newly raised 2nd Punjab Cavalry commanded by Captain Sam Browne, the inventor of the eponymous sword belt. Probyn’s new regiment formed a part of the 11,000 strong Punjab Irregular Force responsible for policing the turbulent tribes living on the Trans-Indus Frontier.
In March 1857 he took part with his regiment in the punitive expedition of all arms under Brigadier-General Sir Neville Chamberlain (See Lot 92) against the predatory Bozdars. The 2nd Punjab Cavalry were next ordered to Kohat, and, en route, received sketchy reports of unrest among the Sepoys of the Bengal Army. Untroubled, Browne despatched Probyn with a number of dismounted men to buy horses in the North West Provinces. When the storm broke at Meerut on 10 May, Probyn was at Jullundur, the station of his parent regiment, the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry. The commander of the station, Brigadier Johnstone, was away on leave, and acting in his place the Commissioner, Major Edward Lake, immediately sent Probyn with his handful of men to seize the important bridgehead at Phillour, on the Sutlej, in order to prevent any mutineers from the Punjab crossing into Oudh. When Brigadier Johnstone returned he refused to listen to Lake’s advice to disarm the native troops, for fear of showing distrust. Meanwhile, on 14 May, Browne had received orders to detach a squadron, under his second-in-command, Charles Nicholson, for service with a Moveable Column, which the Commissioner of Peshawar, Herbert Edwardes, and his deputy, the grimly determined Lieutenant-Colonel John Nicholson (Charles’s brother) proposed to form at Jhelum under Brigadier Chamberlain. But as events developed and the scale of the Mutiny grew, it was considered unwise to entirely denude the Frontier, and the Queen’s troops and the Gurkhas earmarked for the Moveable Column were either halted or returned to their stations. Fortuitously, Nicholson’s squadron was diverted to Jullundur. On 7 June, the inevitable revolt took place at that station, and owing to Johnstone’s earlier irresolution the Europeans were compelled to watch as the mutineers departed with all their equipment and arms. Nicholson arrived next morning, and was employed with a column under Brigadier Johnstone in a half-hearted pursuit of the Jullundur mutineers, some of whom were eventually engaged in a skirmish, and suffered some loss. The majority, however, reached Phillour, and, despite Probyn’s presence, crossed the Sutlej en route for Delhi.
Nicholson’s squadron, H.M’s 8th, and other loyal troops from Jullundur, having reached Phillour, were then ordered to push on and join the British force on the Ridge before Delhi. On 14 August, further troops arrived from the Punjab under John Nicholson, and a week later Probyn was promoted Captain, ‘in the room of Captain Willock, deceased,’ of his old corps, the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry. Nicholson soon demonstrated his resolve and on 25 August he led a column, which included Probyn, against a strong rebel force sent out from Delhi to intercept the arrival of the long-awaited siege-train. The enemy, principally mutineers from the Neemuch Brigade, were espied after a twelve mile march, occupying two villages and a large caravanserai. Nicholson attacked the enclosure with one half of his force, while sending the other to deal with the villages, and, by sunset, the rebels were in full flight across the Najafgarh canal. Nicholson’s force gave chase, killing eight hundred rebels and capturing thirteen guns. The bridge over the canal was blown up and the force returned to the Ridge next day bearing their spoils with them.
With the arrival of the siege-train, preparations were begun for the assault of the city. Brigadier John Nicholson, who was to lead the first of the four storming columns and retain overall co-ordinating command of the others, selected his brother Charles to command the 1st Punjab Infantry, leaving Probyn in command of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry detachment. Shortly after midnight on the 13th, Probyn’s squadron fell in with the Cavalry Brigade, under Brigadier James Hope Grant (Ritchie 1-110) of the 9th Lancers. The infantry assault went in at dawn: two columns going for the breaches made by the siege guns and two for the Kashmir and Kabul gates.
The first three columns entered the city in the face of a determined enemy, but the fourth, commanded by Major Reid of the Sirmoor Gurkha Battalion on the far British right, ran into severe difficulties in the suburb of Kishengaji and the rebels advanced from that quarter, threatening to outflank the whole position on the Ridge. At 7 am on 14 September, the Cavalry Brigade were ordered to move rapidly to the front to contain the enemy in Kishengaji, who were about to destroy Reid’s shattered and confused column. On reaching their new position the cavalry were forced to endure a ‘fierce hurricane of lead and iron’ from the Lahore Bastion for two hours. Hope Grant afterwards wrote: ‘I have never in the whole course of my life seen so much noble conduct displayed by the men as was the case in the brigade I had the honour to command.’ When finally extricated from this perilous post, Lieutenant Frederick Roberts rode up and learnt of the ‘tremendous peppering’ they had undergone. ‘Hodson was there also’ he wrote ‘with his newly-raised regiment, some officers of the 9th Lancers, and Dighton Probyn, Watson, and Younghusband, of the Punjab Cavalry. Probyn was in great spirits, having fallen temporarily into the command of his squadron.’
That appointment was shortly to become permanent as Lieutenant Nicholson had been badly wounded in the assault. For his services at Delhi, Probyn received the first of his many mentions in despatches. After a house-to-house advance through the city, the last of the Delhi strongholds was captured on 20 September, Probyn next joined the 2,500 strong Flying Column under Colonel Edward Greathed (Ritchie 2-51) of the 8th Foot, which marched out at daybreak on the 24th, advancing along the Grand Trunk Road in pursuit of the rebels now pouring across the Doab into Oudh.
Early on the morning of the 28th, the forward elements of the Column arrived at a crossroads, leading in one direction to Boolundshuhur, and in the other to Maolghur, a fort belonging to Walidad Khan, who had assumed authority over the district. The column halted, and picquets were posted to the front. At dawn, gunfire was exchanged between Greathed’s vedettes and rebel skirmishers, and it was soon confirmed that the main body of the enemy were two miles off at Bolundshuhur. They were driven from their positions in front of the town by H.M’s 75th Regiment, and were pursued through the narrow streets. ‘The work fell chiefly on the Cavalry and Horse Artillery’ Roberts recorded, ‘...The 9th Lancers, under Drysdale, performed wonders; and the squadrons of Punjab Cavalry, under their gallant young leaders, Probyn, Watson, and Younghusband, and the squadron of Hodson’s Horse under Hugh Gough, showed of what good stuff they were made. Our casualties were 6 men killed, 6 officers and 35 men wounded. The enemy’s loss was 300. A large quantity of ammunition and baggage fell into our hands, including many articles plundered from European men and women.’
The Column camped at Bolundshuhur for the next six nights during which time Walidad Khan’s hastily abandoned fort was demolished and the wounded evacuated to Meerut. The Flying Column continued its march on 3 October intending to make junction with Havelock’s column marching to the relief of Lucknow. That night a halt was made at Somna, where it was learnt that a large number of insurgents intended to resist the Column’s advance on Allighur, and that they expected to be joined by a large number of mutineers from Delhi. Sunrise on the 5th revealed a ragged band of rebels collected before Aligarh. They were rapidly driven inside by the horse artillery and fled through the town into the open country on the other side. The 9th Lancers, Punjab Cavalry detachments, and horse artillery divided into two parties and swept round Allighur, Probyn and his squadron going around to the right. Reunited on the far side, the cavalry charged on, pursuing the enemy five miles to the south. ‘Probyn and his 2nd Punjab Cavalry’ observed Lieutenant Arthur Moffatt Lang of the Bengal Engineers, ‘first returned from their gallop on our right, having killed some 50 of the enemy.’ Early next day the Column marched to Akrabad to bring two Rajput rebel leaders, the twin brothers Mangal Singh and Mehtab Singh, to book. The Punjab Cavalry squadrons went in advance, and having surrounded the village before daybreak, surprised and killed some fifty fugitives including the twins.
During the course of the march of the Flying Column frequent requests were received from the British bottled up in the ancient fort at Agra, and due to the increasingly urgent nature of the appeals, it was decided to make a forty-eight mile detour and go to their assistance, though the detour meant precluding any attempt to link up with Havelock. The Flying Column marched at midnight on the 8th, with the cavalry and horse artillery pushing forward as fast as possible, but after thirty-six hours word was received that the enemy no longer threatened Agra. Accordingly, the leading units halted and waited for the infantry to catch up.
On reaching Agra, early on the 10th, many of the troops went immediately to sleep on the parade ground to the southwest of the city, while others settled down to their breakfasts watched by large numbers of relieved and inquisitive Europeans. No picquets were posted and no patrols were sent out into the surrounding fields of high crops. The whole in fact took on a carnival atmosphere as tradesmen came out from the city to sell their wares. Then, quite suddenly, a troupe of jugglers entertaining a party of Sikhs and 9th Lancers threw off their costumes and, drawing swords, revealed themselves as Muslim fanatics and cut up their audience. Two heavy guns concealed in the high crops to the right front opened fire causing panic among the non-combatants. At the same time a party of six mutineers rode up to the Quarter-Guard of the 9th Lancers and quietly cut down the sentry. Wearing red coats similar to those sported by ‘Probyn’s 2nd Punjabis’ no one had suspected that they were mutineers from the 2nd Gwalior Cavalry.
When Roberts, called hurriedly from his breakfast in the fort, appeared on the scene he saw: ‘Independent fights going on all over the parade-ground’ ... ‘the 9th Lancers and Gough’s squadron of Hodson’s Horse were rapidly saddling and falling in. On the right, the 8th Foot and the 2nd and 4th Punjab Infantry were busy getting under arms, while beyond, three squadrons of Punjab Cavalry under Probyn and Younghusband, were hurrying to get on the enemy’s flank.’ The infantry did what they could but their field of fire was severely limited, and once again the bulk of the work fell on the cavalry. On the right flank, Probyn led his squadron forward in a most determined and inspiring manner in a charge punctuated by repeated acts of personal valour.
Charging the rebel infantry well ahead of his squadron, he dashed into a party of half a dozen sepoys and cut two down before his own sowars caught up. Soon afterwards he encountered an unusually determined mutineer who managed to wound him in the chest with his bayonet, but unshaken, Probyn turned and slew him. He next singled out a rebel standard-bearer around whom a number of the enemy had collected. As he charged his selected target, he was attacked by a rebel sowar, who, gaining a momentary advantage, raised his sword to cut him down. Probyn’s orderly, ‘a grey haired old Sikh’, saw the danger and lunged forward, raising an arm to protect his sahib. The blow fell, practically severing the orderly’s limb - he died two days later, the victim to his own devotion. At length the fight came to its sanguinary conclusion with Probyn’s, Watson’s and Younghusband’s squadrons riding down substantial numbers of the fleeing enemy and capturing two of their guns. It was largely for these acts of valour that Probyn was later awarded the Victoria Cross. Furthermore, for his services during the advance of the Flying Column, and for his courageous leadership at Agra, he was mentioned in despatches four more times.
The Flying Column rested near Agra for the next four days, and, continuing the march to Lucknow via Cawnpore, set out for Manipuri on the 15th. Hope Grant, who had been retained at Delhi, now caught up with the Column and, having succeeded in getting Greathed’s appointment cancelled, assumed command himself. On the 23rd, the Column reached Miran-ki-Serai near the ruined Hindu city of Kanouje. Here, intelligence reached Roberts that a party of mutineers were in the vicinity escorting four captured British guns. Accordingly, he went ahead to reconnoitre saw the rebels dragging the guns across the Kallee Nuddee, in an attempt to get away. He sent word back to the advance guard and shortly Probyn and Watson galloped up with their two squadrons and two horse artillery guns. A few rounds from the horse gunners caused the rebels to abandon the captured ordnance, and once more the irregular light horse started out in pursuit of the fleeing mutineers.
Once across the river, the two squadrons charged on in parallel lines about a mile apart over ‘a fine grassy plain’ towards the Ganges some four miles away. Ahead of the field, as usual, was Probyn, and coming to the banks of the Ganges, he reined up to watch the rebel sowars who had not been overtaken, struggling in the water as they were swept away downstream.
Three more marches brought the Flying Column to Cawnpore on the 26th and during the short stay there, Probyn was involved in a daring exploit with Risaldar Punjab Singh. One morning before sunrise, Probyn started off with Punjab Singh to visit some outlying picquets furnished by his squadron. They had not gone far when they saw a small party of the enemy. Punjab Singh told Probyn to be quiet and remain at a short distance. Riding up to the rebels, he soon ascertained that they were mutineers from the Gwalior Contingent who had lost their way and were trying to get clear of the British lines. Punjab Singh told them that he and his companion were in a similar fix and, calling Probyn over, led them off in the direction of the nearest picquet. At an appropriate moment Punjab Singh warned Probyn to gallop off to alert the picquet on his signal. As it was gradually getting lighter, it was only a short while before Punjab Singh, drawing his tulwar, shouted to Probyn, and, in the same instant, cut into the enemy. With the advantage of surprise, Punjab Singh despatched several men and managed to keep the rest at bay until Probyn returned with the picquet and killed the rest of the sixteen-man party.
On 14 November, the newly arrived C-in-C, Sir Colin Campbell, opened operations in the direction of Lucknow and, having advanced through Dilkusha Park, a body of sepoys were sighted occupying the Martinière. Under the cover of the artillery, the 8th Foot and a composite infantry battalion drove the mutineers out of the building and the cavalry set off, pursuing them as far as the canal. During the chase, John Watson, finding total release in battle, became separated from his men, and singlehandedly attacked a body of cavalry. But against such odds there was only one possible outcome. Fortunately, Probyn was only about three hundred yards away with both their squadrons, and was able to dash to his assistance thereby undoubtedly saving his life.
The second relief of Lucknow was accomplished on the 17th, and Probyn’s services were acknowledged by Sir Colin in his despatches dated ‘Head-Quarters, Shah Nujjeef, Lucknow, 18th November 1857’, and ‘Head-Quarters, Camp Alumbagh, 25th November 1857’. In consequence of these ‘mentions’ he received the thanks of the Governor-General in General Orders, published on 10 December. Preparations were then made to deal with the Gwalior Contingent who had assembled under Tantia Topi. They were attacked at Cawnpore and driven off on the 6th but for once the cavalry and horse artillery were held up by the hesitations of Sir Colin’s Chief of Staff and were unable to follow up the advantage. Probyn, however, evinced another mention in despatches.
By this time the squadron of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry which Probyn commanded was frequently referred to as Probyn’s Horse, as Lieutenant E. H. Verney, R.N., records in The Shannon’s Brigade in India: ‘Two bodies of irregular Sikh cavalry are attached to main army; one is distinguished by wearing red turbans, is commanded by Captain Hodson of the Indian Army, and is known as Hodson’s Horse; the other wears blue turbans, is commanded by Lieut. Probyn of the Indian Army, and is known as Probyn’s Horse; their dress consists of the whitey-brown “kharki”; each man is armed with a tulwa and brace of pistols, and one or two troops with lances. To command a regiment of these semi-barborous troopers requires no small ability, tact, and personal courage, as well as knowledge of the native character, and both Probyn and Hodson are beloved by their wild horsemen. They are generally splendidly mounted, and each horse is the private property of his rider.’ This appellation, however should not be confused with the regiment - Probyn’s Horse. The latter unit was titled the 1st Sikh Cavalry, or Wale’s Horse, during the Mutiny after its commander.
Probyn’s squadron was next engaged in the action fought on 2 January 1858 on the banks of the Kallee Nuddee at Khudaganj where Lord Roberts won his Victoria Cross in another pursuit of the rebels under Hope Grant. On the 10th, Probyn was mentioned in the latter officer’s despatch. On 23 February, Sam Browne arrived at Cawnpore with the rest of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry from Murdan, and Probyn rejoined Regimental Headquarters as second in command. The 2nd Punjab Cavalry remained at Cawnpore for the next few days acting as escort to the Commander-in-Chief, who was once more turning his attention to Lucknow, where the Maulvi of Fyzabad had collected together an enormous army for its defence, and was constantly attacking Sir James Outram’s earthworks around the Alumbagh. Sir Colin’s army, now numbering some 30,000 men, assembled at Banthira where the 2nd Punjab Cavalry were brigaded under Brigadier Little, with 2nd Dragoon Guards (the Bays), 9th Lancers, a detachment of the 5th Punjab Cavalry and the 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry (Wale’s Horse).
The advance on Lucknow commenced on 2 March with the 2nd Punjab Cavalry taking part in the occupation of the Dilkusha, losing two horses killed and two men wounded. The army was next split in two. One column under Sir Colin was to cross the canal above the Martinière, then advance into the city against its main citadel, the Kaiser Bagh. The other column under Sir James Outram was to cross the Gumti, then move north to the village of Ismailganj, before advancing down the Fyzabad road to the Chakar Kothi and the iron and stone bridges leading into the city. Little’s 1st Cavalry Brigade was detailed to Outram’s column.
The Gumti was crossed before daybreak on the 6th, and the advance guard of Outram’s force, comprising one squadron of the Bays and a squadron of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry under Probyn, met a body of enemy cavalry which was immediately attacked and cut up. Enemy losses on this occasion amounted to sixty to eighty dead and one elephant captured. That night Outram’s force encamped close to the old race course by the Fyzabad road, some four miles from the city. The following morning the rebels attacked the camp but were repulsed without much difficulty. Throughout the day the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was employed in supporting the horse artillery at the Iron Bridge which led into the city from the northeast. By the 9th, Outram’s column was in position to begin the attack through the jungle towards the Chakar Kothi, which was duly taken.
During the final days of the Fall of Lucknow, the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was constantly engaged in patrolling and was frequently sent short distances in pursuit of fleeing mutineers and rebels, but only closed with the enemy on two or three occasions. By this time, Probyn, worn down by the rigours of continual campaigning, was a shadow of his former self and, on the advice of the surgeons, started down country on 18 March for embarkation to England. He carried with him an enemy standard captured by Roberts and a letter for his mother, Lady Roberts, in which her son had written: ‘We have been together the whole time ... I could not send a better person to give you an account of this eventful year.’ Three days after his departure the last of the rebel forces were dislodged from Lucknow, and on 24 March was promoted Brevet Major.
On 18 June (Waterloo Day) 1858, an extract of Hope Grant’s despatch of 10 January announced Probyn’s award of the Victoria Cross in the London Gazette. The same edition of the Gazette also carried the announcement that he was to be created a Companion of the Bath. He received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria at a parade held on Southsea Common on 2 August 1858. In England, the returning hero rapidly regained his health and with his striking physical attributes at once cut a dash in fashionable society. On 31 May, he was noticed by the Press ‘at the Queen’s Drawing-room in London’ attired ‘in his splendid uniform of the Sikh Cavalry’. An old friend once remarked ‘He could not help being showy in appearance - Nature made him so.’
With the disappearance of his parent regiment, the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry, his name was transferred to the rolls of the 3rd European Light Cavalry, (an amalgamation of the 6th and 4th Regiments of Bengal Light Cavalry) and, in January 1859, as a further special award for his services during the Mutiny, he was appointed to the command of Wale’s Horse - the 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry - Captain Wale, having been shot dead by a solitary Sepoy during mopping up operations at Lucknow. Probyn joined his new regiment, which soon became known as Probyn’s Horse, in India in January 1860, and, as a result of his personal lobbying, the corps was included in the Anglo-French Expedition to China.
On 28 January, Hope Grant, who had been appointed to command the Anglo-Indian expeditionary force, received the following communication from Calcutta: ‘Pass before you 1st Sikh Cavalry - Probyn’s - and ascertain from each man individually his willingness for service in China. Each man to sign or seal a paper. Communicate without delay.’
In due course the regiment was drawn up before Hope Grant’s house at Lucknow; every man without exception signed the required paper. In early February the regiment proceeded to the railhead at Raniganj 600 miles from Lucknow, and entrained for Calcutta, where it was equipped with Government horses, thus temporarily lapsing from the silladar system. Embarkation began on 19 March, and by 1 April the whole regiment was en route for Hong Kong. Probyn’s Horse was brigaded with Fane’s Horse and the King’s Dragoon Guards, under Brigadier Pattle, and landed at the end of the month and encamped on a breezy two mile stretch on Kowloon. In early June, it embarked on the final leg of the journey up the China coast to Pei-t’ang, but a heavy gale forced thirty ships, including the Queen of England carrying Probyn and regimental headquarters, back to Hong Kong.
Probyn’s Horse finally came ashore at Pei-t’ang, near the heavily defended Taku Forts at the mouth of the Peiho River, on 5 August and as Hope Grant was anxious to advance inland due to a scarcity of shelter and good water, Probyn was sent ahead on the 9th with two squadrons and a troop of the King’s Dragoon Guards to reconnoitre. He was given specific orders to refrain from engaging the enemy who hovered close by throughout the day. His self-restraint on this occasion won him the approbation of Hope Grant. On the 12th, the Anglo-Indian forces advanced across the causeway leading to Sinho, with the Cavalry Brigade deploying before the enemy’s position on the right of General Napier’s 2nd Division. No sooner had this manoeuvre been carried out than a massed body of some 4,000 Tartar horse, armed generally with swords and bows and arrows, threatened the right flank. At once, Probyn’s Horse and Fane’s Horse, with the King’s Dragoon Guards in support, delivered an effective charge, cutting down many of the enemy and driving back the rest in disorder. In this action Probyn’s Horse claimed to be the first to cross swords with the Tartars.
As the infantry continued their advance on Sinho, the Tartar cavalry again came to the front. Probyn reacted immediately and swiftly led his own regiment, Fane’s and the K.D.G. at them. But the Chinese lost their nerve and fled from the field not caring to face the consequences of a second charge. From Sinho the enemy fell back on Tangku which was captured by the Allies after a short fight on the 14th. On the 21st the Allied force moved out from Tangku, captured the Taku Forts and occupied Tientsin on the 24th. Probyn’s Horse advanced from Tientsin on 12 September with Sir John Michel’s 1st Division, reaching Hosiwo on the 16th. Two days later with the 4,000 strong Allied field force, Probyn’s encountered a Chinese force of 20,000 men, heavily armed with artillery, and holding a four mile front with their left resting on the Peiho and their right on the walled town of Chang-kia-wan. French guns were brought into action against the enemy’s left flank, while Michel’s Division and the Cavalry Brigade contended with Chinese attacks on the Allied front and left. Posted on the far Allied left, Probyn reported a large body of Tartar Horse working round his flank with the intention of getting to the rear and attacking the baggage. Brigadier Pattle disregarded his warnings, but Michel gave him orders to go off with the regiment, keep watch on the Tartar Horse and, if possible, turn them. Reduced to only one hundred and six sabres, having provided several detachments for duties elsewhere, Probyn’s moved off and was soon some distance from the nearest support. Perceiving Probyn as easy pickings, some two thousand Tartar cavalry bore down on him, while the Chinese artillery opened a harassing fire on their objective. In spite of the inevitable casualties the regiment stood firm until the Tartars had closed to fifty yards. Probyn ordered the charge and the regiment advanced rapidly slicing through the opposing horse, and wheeling round, cut through it for a second time.
Once again Hope Grant found himself acknowledging Probyn’s services. He wrote: ‘Sir John Michel encountered such heavy masses on his left that he had some difficulty in holding his position, and was attacked by a large body of Tartar cavalry. Probyn, who had only 100 of his Regiment with him at the time was ordered to charge the front, which he did in most gallant style, riding in amongst them with such vigour and determination that they could not withstand the attack for a moment, and fled in utter consternation.’ Michel also warmly commended the Regiment, congratulating it personally on the field. ‘To carry out my orders and to prevent the enemy annoying his small force by their fire, Major Probyn charged into the middle of this body. The charge was gallantly executed and eminently successful, and I cannot speak too highly of this small party and the merit of its commander.’
Furthermore, Sir Garnet Wolseley, who was at the time Hope Grant’s A.Q.M.G., later wrote of this severe action; ‘Our artillery, playing on the enemy’s masses, inflicted heavy losses on them, and Major Probyn, charging with the reckless gallantry which distinguished him, cleared the front of our immediate left. The action which followed was a brilliant success, gained by a small body of French and English troops over an enemy that had at least 20,000 men and a vast number of guns in the field.’ With his brilliant charge, which was accomplished for the loss of only six wounded, the Allied force advanced and the Chinese abandoned Chang-kia-wan. Upwards of eighty guns fell into Allied hands and the Chinese camp was also taken.
A cavalry reconnaissance on the 20th revealed some 50,000 of the enemy at Pa-li-chiao, occupying groves and walled enclosures. The Allied forces advanced to attack the army next day, and came under a severe barrage of artillery fire. Emboldened by its effect, the Tartar horse came on and again threatened to envelop the Allied left. They were stopped in their tracks by a battery which opened fire at two hundred yards, presenting the Cavalry Brigade with the opportunity to charge. The Brigade attacked, this time with Probyn’s Horse in support of the King’s Dragoon Guards and Fane’s Horse. The Tartar cavalry was thrown into utter confusion and driven back, never to regain the nerve to face the Cavalry Brigade. Shortly afterwards, however, Probyn saw a further opportunity to deliver a charge, and despite the Brigadier’s opinion, duly carried out the movement. Hope Grant, witnessing this charge, was swift to express his approval of Probyn’s initiative, describing the action as ‘admirable’.
On the 22nd, the enemy sent in a flag of truce, but refused to hand over a number of prisoners which included the British Consul from Canton and an escort of Fane’s Horse. It was therefore decided to advance. Probyn was sent forward to reconnoitre and reported the Chinese army encamped north of the city. The Allies moved forward on 3 October and, on the 5th, bivouacked close by. Both Probyn and Walter Fane carried out reconnaissances accompanied by only a few sowars, but the enemy wherever they were met, fled before them. On the 6th, with the failure of the Prince Kung to release the prisoners, Hope Grant and Montauban, having awaited the arrival of the reserve division and the heavy guns, decided to march round the city to the northwest and rendezvous at the Summer Palace, a few miles outside the city walls, prior to launching an attack on the main Chinese army. In the event the enemy dispersed, and the French accompanied by some British cavalry, arrived in the afternoon at the Summer Palace, which, following the arrival of Hope Grant’s forces, was sacked. Amongst the vast quantity loot taken from the Summer Palace, were three huge enamelled bowls; these were ‘acquired’ by Probyn himself, and later presented to Queen Victoria as a gift from the Army.
At the conclusion of the campaign the Commander-in-Chief reported: ‘The 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry, under Major Probyn, and Fane’s Horse, under Captain Fane, have performed their work most admirably. On more than one occasion these Regiments have been opposed, and have successfully charged a vastly superior force of the enemy’s cavalry; and their conduct in the field excited the admiration of the French as well as of the English troops. It is not only on the field of battle that their services have been so important during the recent campaign, but in performing the numerous other duties required of them of an infinitely harassing nature - patrols, escorts, reconnaissances, as well as the task of conveying letters almost daily between Tientsin and Pekin (a distance of seventy-five miles) for upwards of a month, during which they were frequently fired upon - their services have been of the utmost value to the expedition. I beg to recommend Major Probyn and Captain Fane to your Excellency’s most favourable notice.’
On 13 October the Allies entered Pekin, and the war was brought to a successful conclusion with the signing of the peace treaty. At the suggestion of the Duke of Cambridge, Probyn was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel by Brevet.
Probyn returned to India in January 1861 and landed at Calcutta, where his regiment’s newly appointed surgeon, J. H. Sylvester, went immediately on board Probyn’s ship to meet him. ‘A fine looking fellow’ was the first impression Sylvester jotted into his diary although he added ‘not so striking as I had anticipated’, and further complained to his diary: ‘Probyn has entirely changed the uniform from silver to gold and blue, the cut of everything is altered and the whole is very expensive indeed, he seems a most reckless, extravagant fellow and seems to expect the same of all his officers.’
In October 1863, Probyn’s Horse was selected to serve in the 5,600 strong Yusafzai Field Force against Gadun and Utmanzai fanatics, who had been raiding from the Chamla Valley. The main body set off from Nowakilla on 19 October, while on the same day Probyn with one hundred sabres started for the Umbeyla Pass in Wilde’s Column. The Pass was negotiated with difficulty on the following afternoon, and on the 22nd Probyn went out on reconnaissance and discovered that the Bunerwals, who were not been involved in the original dispute were about to throw their lot in with the Gudans and Utmanzais. The Bunerwals caught wind of Probyn’s reconnaissance and attempted to intercept his party. It was one of the rare occasions in the campaign when Probyn found himself on open ground and was presented with an opportunity to charge. At the head of one hundred and fifty sabres, he delivered his attack and put the Bunerwals to flight. Nevertheless, the Field Force was thereafter thrown on the defensive, providing few opportunities for Chamberlain’s cavalry.
In early December the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Hugh Rose, sent up reinforcements and appointed Major-General Gavrock to succeed Chamberlain. On the 14th the enemy were attacked and driven out of strong positions in and around Lau. Organizing his forces in two columns, Gavrock next advanced into the valley and burnt the village of Malka to the ground. Referring to one of the closing operations in this small but costly campaign, Gavrock wrote of Probyn’s Horse in his despatches: ‘Pressing on at a gallop, these splendid horsemen ... passed round the enemy’s position ... with the result that the enemy abandoned it. They later, by a judicious movement under Probyn, effectually protected our own left.’ At the close of the Umbeyla Expedition, the Regiment returned to Peshawar arriving there on 27 December 1863. Probyn relinquished command of the Regiment in 1866 and came home on furlough. In 1869, he was appointed Commandant of the Central India Horse in succession to Sam Browne. It was a most desirable appointment consisting of the command of two regiments stationed a hundred and thirty miles apart at Agar in West Malwa and at Goona in Central India. The C.I.H. had been organized in 1861 from three silladari regiments, Mayne’s Horse, Meade’s Horse and Beatson’s Horse, raised during the Mutiny, and was chiefly employed in protecting the Grand Trunk Road and suppressing dacoity. The post also involved the Commandant in some political work acting as the Political Agent to a number of small states.
In 1870, at the age of thirty-seven, Probyn was promoted Major-General and appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy, Lord Mayo. In this capacity he accompanied Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, on his royal tour of 1870-71. It was the first such visit to India, and its success to some extent paved the way for the Heir Apparent’s imperial progress of 1875. In 1872, Probyn returned to England to become Equerry to the Prince of Wales, and thenceforth his life was completely identified with that of his Royal master. From the first he showed himself to be wise and honourable, and enjoyed ever increasing terms of intimacy and confidence with all members of the Royal Family.
In March 1875, Probyn accompanied the Prince of Wales on his tour of India which was designed to show that the rule of the Honourable East India Company had given way to a greater authority. The triumphant tour ended after seventeen weeks and on his return to England, Probyn was rewarded with a K.C.B. (Civil Division), a K.C.S.I., and by being advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General. In March 1877, Probyn was appointed Comptroller and Treasurer of the Prince of Wales’s Household. Fortunately the Queen approved of the Prince’s choice and commended the comparatively youthful General by writing, ‘his age and very high character would seem to fit him for a post of confidence.’ Aside from his obligations to the Prince at home and on official visits overseas, Probyn found his niche with the Queen acting as her adviser on Eastern affairs and military matters. Probyn openly proclaimed a deep affection for the Princess of Wales, whom he always referred to as ‘the Blessed Lady’, and served her with an unselfish devotion which could never give rise to scandal. In 1888, he was made full General and in 1896 he was among the first recipients of the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. The death of Queen Victoria, in 1901, brought with it sweeping changes in the key royal appointments with King Edward generally replacing his mother’s staff with his own. Probyn begged his royal master to let him retire but was refused, since he had proven himself unusually adept in handling the Prince’s financial affairs. He was now made Keeper of the Privy Purse and a member of the Privy Council. In the Coronation Honours List of 1902, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (Civil Division), and the following year was awarded the new Imperial Service Order. In 1904, he was made Colonel of Probyn’s Horse and, in 1909, was created a Knight Commander of the Bath (Military Division). When King Edward VII died in May 1910, Probyn, at the age of seventy-seven, was looking forward to a well earned retirement, but as one of the three people on whom Queen Alexandra was now utterly dependent, he unquestioningly agreed to serve as her Comptroller. The other members of the trio were her daughter, the unmarried Princess Victoria, and Charlotte Knollys. Controlling Alexandra’s expenditure was no easier than managing the finances of the late King. She was recklessly extravagant when it came to charitable donations and was a total stranger to household economy.
In 1911, Probyn was paid a unique tribute by being advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (Military Division), thus becoming the only non-Royal to hold the highest grade of the Order in both the civil and military divisions. In August of that year, he fell seriously ill with heart trouble, and it was not expected that he would live, but despite the specialists’ predictions that he would not survive the year, the old warrior pulled through. His recovery was reputedly aided by a thoughtful telegram from King George V who, attending the Delhi Durbar, told him, ‘Probyn’s Horse was the finest regiment on parade.’ By this time Probyn was greatly changed in appearance. Gout had contracted the muscles of his neck so that he could never again lift up his head. This, Probyn liked to tell people, was a judgement on him for having said he would not give a rap for any man who would not look him in the eye, and now all that he could do was to see the holes in women’s stockings!
Probyn, now in his eighty-second year, was driven almost to despair by Alexandra’s refusal to economize. The Great War presented her with ample opportunity to indulge her charitable impulses, which she fulfilled without regard for her diminishing income. ‘The Blessed Lady’s generosity knows no bounds,’ wrote Probyn in 1915, ‘hundreds and thousands of pounds she is spending on all sorts of war charities.’ His attempts to persuade her to cut back were usually unsuccessful, but Probyn did manage to have some of her ancient horses destroyed, not merely because of the financial economy, but also because so many of the Sandringham men had gone off to the war. Probyn’s twilight years were spent chiefly at Sandringham in Norfolk. In June 1924, he was taken ill and was nursed at Sandringham in the room previously occupied by Queen Victoria. He died there on the 20 June, having spent much of the previous day, according to his valet, mentioning his regiment of which he was so proud.
Refs: Notes on General The Right Honourable Sir Dighton Probyn (Butler); The Victoria Cross (Creagh & Humphris); Journal of the Late General Sir Sam Browne; A History of The XI King Edward’s Own Lancers (Probyn’s Horse) (Maxwell); The History of Probyn’s Horse (5th King Edward’s Own Lancers) (Boyle); The Gemini Generals (Wilkinson); Forty One Years in India (Roberts); Lahore to Lucknow, The Indian Mutiny Journal of Arthur Moffatt Lang; Cavalry Surgeon, The Recollections of JH Sylvester; The China War of 1860 (Hope Grant & Knollys); The Chinese Opium Wars (Beeching); King Edward VII, A Biography (Lee); Edward and Alexandra (Hough); Alexandra, Princess and Queen (Duff); Queen Alexandra (Battiscombe).
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