Medals from a Mutiny Collection

Pair: Colonel F. E. Lewes, Bengal Horse Artillery, who served in the action against the Mutineers of the 14th Native Infantry at Jhelum on 7 July 1857, in which action Gunner Conolly, also of the 1st Troop, 3rd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery was awarded the Victoria Cross; and was Mentioned in Despatches for his services with the Kohat Expedition on the North West Frontier in February 1869

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieut. F. E. Lewes 1st. Co. 2nd. Bn. Bl. Arty.) engraved naming; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Lieut. F. E. Lewes Ryl. Arty.) light contact marks, good very fine (2) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from a Mutiny Collection.

View
Collection

Provenance: George McIlroy Collection.

Frederick Eustace Lewes was born at Secrole, Benares, on 19 July 1836, the son of Colonel C. J. Lewes, 3rd Bengal European Regiment, and was educated at Addiscombe. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 8 June 1855 and was posted to the Bengal Horse Artillery, serving with the 1st Troop, 3rd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery during the Great Sepoy Mutiny as part of the Peshawar Division under Sir Sydney Cotton. He was present when the 24th, 27th, and 51st Regiments of Native Infantry were disarmed at Peshawar on 22 May 1857, and was wounded in the action with the mutineers of the 14th Native Infantry at Jhelum on 7 July 1857.

The Bengal Horse Artillery 1800-61 by Major-General B. P. Hughes gives the following account of the action at Jhelum:
‘There was also trouble in Jhelum, when a detachment of H.M’s 24th Foot, the newly raised Multani Horse, and a half troop of the 1st Troop 3rd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery were sent to disarm the native battalion there. A badly planned battle took place, first in the cantonments and later in a village outside. Pressing forward over keenly, the 1/3 B.H.A. found itself a bare 100 yards from the mutineers position, when overwhelming fire forced the infantry to withdraw. Both pole horses of one gun were shot down and the same fate befell the relief team which galloped forward to get the gun back. In these actions Gunner Conolly of the 1/3 B.H.A. was twice wounded in the battle in the cantonment in the morning, and once again in the action in the afternoon. In spite of these wounds he remained in action on the gun until he fainted, eventually receiving the Victoria Cross.’

Recovering from his wounds, Lewes subsequently commanded two guns alongside the 87th Foot at Peshawar during the mutiny of the 51st Regiment Native Infantry, and the blowing away of that regiment on 28 August 1857. A Postscript to the Records of the Indian Mutiny by G. H. D. Gimlett gives the following account:
‘The 51st Native Infantry was disarmed at Peshawar on 22 May 1857, together with the 24th, 27th, and 5th Light Cavalry. Though disarmed the sepoys were by no means quiescent, and desertions soon commenced. It was discovered that the sepoys were secretly arming themselves, and on 28 August a search of the lines was made. The sepoys of the 51st resisted; suddenly the whole regiment rose. The 87th Royal Irish, under Colonel Murray, with a squadron of the Peshawar Light Horse and two guns, were drawn up in their own adjacent barrack square. Very soon the main body were in full flight towards Jumrood, hot pursued, they were annihilated. Those captured were tried by drum head court martial and executed on the same and on the following day. Of the 870 men who, on the morning of 28 August composed the 51st B.N.I., within 48 hours fewer than seventy survived.’

Promoted Lieutenant on 14 April 1858, Lewes served with the Peshawur Mountain Division against the Mashood Wazeers in the expedition under Brigadier General Sir N. Chamberlain in April and May 1860 with the Peshawar Mountain Battery. Promoted Captain on 24 January 1865, he subsequently took part in the Kohat expedition of 1869 under Colonel Keyes, and commended a Light Field Battery of two guns at the surprise of the Bezotee village of Gara on 25 February 1869. For his services he was Mentioned in Colonel Keyes’ Despatch, and was specially thanked by the Governor General in Council.

Lewes was promoted Major on 21 September 1872, and Colonel on 1 May 1880. He died in London on 26 March 1893.

Sold with copied research.

For the recipient’s brother’s medals, see Lot 456.