The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

A scarce Afghan War and Scinde campaign pair to Major R. B. Brett, 1st (or Leslie’s) Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery

(a) Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Lieutt. R. B. Brett, 1st Troop Horse Brigade Bombay Arty.) fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension

(b) Hyderabad 1843 (Lieutenant R. B. Brett, 1st or Leslie’s Troop H.A.) fitted with silver clip and steel bar suspension, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise very fine (2) £1200-1500

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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Reginald Best Brett was the third son of the Rev George Brett of Ulcombe Rectory, Kent, and sometime incumbent of the Hanover Chapel, Regent Street, London, and his wife Dorothy, the daughter of George Best, M.P., of Chilston Park, Kent. Brett was born on 12 July 1820 and was educated at St Peter’s Grammar School, Eaton Square, and at Addiscombe. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Bombay Artillery in December 1839, and attached to the 1st Battalion at Ahmednuggur. In 1841 he was temporarily attached to the 1st Troop, Bombay Horse Artillery, which he accompanied to Poona in order to join the 4th Troop, Horse Artillery. On 10 November 1841, however, he was appointed Adjutant to the detachment of Bombay Artillery with Major General Nott’s force at Candahar.

In early 1843, he was next attached to Captain Leslie’s Troop and was sent with 4,500 men into Scinde to reinforce Sir Charles Napier’s small force at Hyderabad. On 24 March, Brett was present when Napier marched ten miles into the outlying country at the head of 5,000 men and 19 guns to confront 26,000 Baluchis under Shere Mahomed at Dubba. Despite the skilfully selected Baluchi position the enemy were swiftly driven off by the infantry advancing under harassing fire laid down by the artillery. The tribesmen were forced back from one nullah to another and finally pushed out into the open where they were repeatedly charged by the cavalry and horse artillery. In the Battle of Hyderabad, British losses amounted to 270 officers and men against 5,000 Baluchi dead.

In 1844, he was appointed to take charge of the Engineers’ Office at Poona, and the following year became Adjutant and Quarter-master of the 2nd Battalion, Bombay Artillery. In 1846 he was given charge of the horses of the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion, relinquishing that post in April 1847, when he was temporarily attached to the service of His Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad. His appointment was, however, cancelled in June, and he returned to 2/3 Bombay Artillery. Brett was advanced to the rank of Captain on 17 August 1851 and, in 1852, took part in the expedition to Roree against Ali Morad. The following year he was appointed Local Major in the Ottoman Dominions. Appointed Resident Agent at Constantinople for the Turkish Contingent, his brevet rank was confirmed on disbandment of that contingent in June 1856. Major Brett died suddenly at sea on board the Eastern Monarch on 13 February 1859.

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); IOL L/MIL/12/72; IOL L/MIL/12/82; IOL L/MIL/9/187.