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

The campaign pair to Lieutenant Charles Combe, 3rd Light Cavalry, recommended for the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the battle of Khushab

(a) India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Persia (Cornet C. Combe, 3rd Lt. Cavy.)

(b) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Lt. C. Combe, 3rd Bombay Cavy.) very fine (2) £2500-3000

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 Combe, the son of Charles James Fox Coombe, gent., was baptised in the parish of Hackney, Middlesex, on 23 June 1837. He was educated at Monsieur Bahon’s College in Honfleur and at Mr Staines’ establishment in London. He was nominated a Cadet for the Bombay Cavalry by Russell Ellice, Esq., on the recommendation of his uncle, Harry Combe, and sailed for India on 18 September 1855, being appointed Cornet four days later. He arrived at Bombay on 28 January 1856 and was posted to the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry at Rajcote, where he was soon settled in a bungalow, better than the ones usually rented by subalterns because it had an upstairs room. For this he paid £42 per annum unfurnished. He employed a married butler at 30 shillings a month and a boy at 16 shillings a month. To start with his daily routine consisted largely of drill: ‘...begun drill,’ he told his family in one of his many letters, ‘which is rather hard work; five o’clock is the time I get up, and after a cup of tea, I ride down to drill, which lasts till about 7.30; at 12, I have an hour more carbine, &c. drill, and in the afternoon have another hour and a half foot drill. We dine at mess at seven, and generally get to bed about ten.’

In mid-September 1856 the 3rd Bombay L.C. was informed that the whole regiment, except a few unlucky Cornets who were additions to strength, would be included in the Persian expedition. Combe recorded the Cornets’ anxiety at the thought of being left behind, telling his family they were all ‘frantic at the thought of not going with the regiment, and are trying every body with influence at Head Quarters. The weather gets very hot again, but nobody thinks of that, or anything but ‘service in Persia’.’ To the relief of Combe and the rest permission was received for all the Cornets to go with the regiment on the eve of departure. The 3rd left Rajcote on 1 October 1856, in heavy rain, and commenced the two week march to their port of embarkation. Combe evidently enjoyed the journey: ‘This is a very jolly life,’ he wrote ‘we march at about two a.m., halt about seven, have two hours ‘stables’, after which tents are pitched, and breakfast prepared, stables again in the evening, dine at six, and ‘to bed’ very soon afterwards in the small tents; the large ones and baggage going on to the next stage about nine o’clock.’

Having secured Bushire on the Persian Gulf, the expedition was reinforced by troops under Major-General James Outram, and advanced inland to Boorzgoon on 3 February 1857. Having failed to draw the Persians to battle, Outram’s force started back towards the coast believing the the enemy had dispersed into the hills. However on the night of the 7th, Persian units attacked the rear guard. Outram deployed and waited for first light. At the first streak of dawn, Captain J. C. Graves of the 3rd galloped off to reconnoitre the enemy position. ‘By the time [Graves] returned it was pretty light,’ wrote Combe ‘we discovered the Persian army drawn up in ‘battle array’ - in line; their right resting on a village (Khooshab), their left extending to a second village ... On their right front and flank was a ditch, full of skirmishers, and in front of their centre were two small mounds, which served as redoubts for their guns. Large bodies of cavalry were formed up on each flank. It was rather misty, but a sharp cold wind soon cleared the mist away, and made us long to be moving. We had not long to wait. Forbes, giving the order to mount, put himself at our head, and gave the order: ‘The line will advance. Draw swords. Third Squadron. Walk. Trot. Gallop’ and when within a hundred yards of the enemy ‘Charge!’’ Combe’s squadron crashed into a perfectly formed square; the infantry formation which the Persians had learnt from European advisers would invariably withstand the most determined cavalry attack. But, on this occasion, the nerve of the attackers was such that they simply cut cleanly through the square; some riding their horses on to the waiting bayonets and fighting their way out on foot. Combe’s horse was wounded in five places (but survived to be renamed ‘Khoosh-ab’) and he himself had a narrow escape from three musket balls which he later found lodged in a ‘guernsey’ which he carried over his pistol holster. With the devastating charge of the Third Squadron of the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry and some effective artillery fire, the battle was over almost before it had begun. The Persians left 700 dead on the field, and Outram returned to Bushire on the 9th.

Outram recommended no less than fifteen men for the Victoria Cross at Khushab, and wrote ‘After the fullest inquiry, I am myself quite satisfied that the undermentioned officers and men of the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry are well deserving of the high distinction of the Victoria Cross for their conduct at Khooshab, on 8th February, 1857, for which I beg earnestly to recommend them. The order of merit in my opinion is as I have placed their names: - Captain Forbes, Lieutenant and Adjutant Moore [Ritchie 1-75], Captain Moore [Ritchie 1-76], Lieutenant Malcolmson, Captain Wren, Lieutenant Spens, Cornet Combe, Cornet Hill, Jemadar Runjeet Sing, Trooper Lall Khan.’

Despite it being an age in which the Victoria Cross was more easily won, it must be said that even then it was thought that Outram had considerably ‘overdone’ his recommendations, and of the above only Malcolmson and Adjutant Moore received the coveted decoration. There was very little fighting after Khushab, and, on 4 April 1857, a peace was signed in Paris and the last war fought by the Honourable East India Company came to a close.

Cornet Combe returned to India and was promoted Lieutenant on 4 October 1857. Following the mutiny of the Bengal Army, he served with his regiment in 1858 as part of the Nerbuddah and Central India Field Forces under Sir Hugh Rose. On 16 March 1858, while himself sharing no less than ‘eighteen servants, five horses, two ponies, six bullocks and four carts’ with one other subaltern, Combe complained of the vast numbers of camp followers that always accompanied an army on the march in India. ‘Our line of carts now extends 14 miles, cart behind cart, to say nothing of hundreds of elephants, camels, bullocks, led horses, mules, donkeys, &c. which go straggling all along the line. The rearguard has an endless job with them: ‘The 3rd Cavalry will do this or that’ seems to be the everlasting order.’

The object of Sir Hugh’s advance, the city of Jhansi, contained an 11,000-strong rebel garrison commanded by the Rani herself, who to Combe’s mind was ‘a wonderful woman, very brave and determined’. ‘It is fortunate for us that the men are not all like her!’ On 20 March, Sir Hugh sent forward the cavalry and horse artillery of the 2nd Brigade to commence the investment of Jhansi, and instructed Colonel Scudamore (see Lot 73) and Major Gall to establish seven cavalry flying camps with horse artillery around the perimeter of the city in order to prevent any rebels escaping as they had at Rathgahr. From each of the camps, vedettes and outposts were sent out to ensure that no one left the city unobserved. ‘The orders, wrote Combe, ‘were to spare nobody over sixteen years - except women, of course’. ‘Our servants brought us out a few clean shirts, and we have a mussuk [leather bag] of cold water poured over our head and shoulders by way of a bath, but we have not regularly undressed since the 19th ult. ... at night we take turn about every two hours sleeping on the ground, wrapped in our cloaks’ ... ‘My man brought out my desk, and I amuse myself scribbling.’

A breach in the walls of Jhansi having been made practicable, the assault went in on 3 April and the city was taken in two days of heavy fighting. At about 4 p.m. on the first day Combe saw a large body of enemy horsemen attempting to make good their escape. ‘We went at them’, he reported to his family, ‘and drove many back; about 100, however, got through. A troop of ours, and some Irregular Cavalry pursued them seven miles, cutting up parties of fugitives. Next morning our flag was flying from the highest tower, but we were very much disgusted to find the Queen [the Rani] had escaped; how, when or where we couldn’t imagine. We were sent all over the country in pursuit, and one of our troops overtook her at Banda 20 miles off. Her escort made a hard fight of it, and though our fellows did their utmost and killed nearly every man, she got away, her smart saddle, etc., falling into our hands.’

Having spent three weeks in Jhansi gathering supplies and ammunition, Sir Hugh went in pursuit of the rebels. The weather was now exceedingly hot, and Tantia Topi, wily as ever and intending to wear down Rose’s force in the heat, took up a position at Kunch. On 6 May, Rose’s infantry defeated Tantia Topi’s forces, but had no strength to follow up the victory. The cavalry and horse artillery gave chase for a short distance but they too were exhausted and the pursuit had to be abandoned. On 8 May Combe wrote: ‘This is most killing work. We had nothing to eat from dinner on the 6th to this morning. We lost seven men of the 71st yesterday from sunstroke, three the day before, and four officers are not expected to live. It is almost impossible for Europeans to stand the heat. The glass registers 115° in the best tents so you can imagine what it is in the burning sun. My sword was so hot yesterday I really could hardly hold it. Everything is hot - even the water in the wells which, bye the bye, are very scarce ... Sir H. Rose is suffering very much. He was lying in a dhoolie yesterday, covered with wet clothes [but] he insisted on getting up, and even joining in the pursuit, falling twice from his horse from the heat. He is a most determined fellow ... Even the flying rebels gave in yesterday, after running for eight miles, begging for water.’

Tantia Topi now fell back to Calpee, one of the strongest forts in India, and joined forces with Rao Sahib, a nephew of the Nana. The Rani of Jhansi was also there, and inspired by her determination they marched out on 22 May to attack Sir Hugh Rose’s depleted force. The action took place at Golowli, and despite being attacked at the hottest part of the day, the British fought well and once more drove the rebels back in retreat. After ten days, spent at Calpee, Rose received word that Tantia Topi, the Rani and Rao Sahib had taken Gwalior from Maharajah Scindia and that the latter’s army had gone over to the rebel side. Accordingly Rose marched out on 6 June, leaving behind a small force, which included Combe, with instructions to follow as soon as it was relieved by troops from Bengal. Over forty officers had gone off sick to Cawnpore, and Combe found himself ‘the only cavalry officer in this force [and] I command,’ he wrote with glee, ‘the whole Brigade!! (about 130 men) under Brigadier Combe! I get off orderly officer, picquet, rearguard and a variety of duties it would be ‘infra dig’ for a Brigadier to perform!’

Combe’s ‘Brigade’ caught up with Rose at a point five miles east of Morar in mid-June, and was subsequently placed in the brigade commanded by Major-General Robert Napier. On the 16th Rose’s force defeated the rebels at Morar, and next day preparations began for an attack on Gwalior. Combe however was left at Morar with whatever cavalry could be spared - sixty-two sabres of the 14th Light Dragoons; 104 of the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry; 245 of the Hyderabad Cavalry; the 3rd and the ‘Eagle’ Troops of Bombay Horse Artillery - under Napier, who had been given orders to pursue the enemy if they retreated that way from Gwalior. On the 19th Rose occupied Gwalior, and early on the 20th Napier moved out to cut off the rebel retreat. Twenty-five miles down the road, the rebels were intercepted at Jowra-Alipur. Combe described how the men of the Hyderabad Cavalry first made contact. They ‘discovered a large force encamped under some trees. Two camel-riders came out and enquired who we were. “Who are you ?” said our men. “Tantia Topee and the Nawab’s Army” was the answer. “Well, we are Sir Hugh Rose’s army”; upon hearing which they hurried away. Our men killed one of them, the other got back; and from the commotion, etc., which followed his arrival, it was evident that his news was unexpected and disagreeable!’

Meanwhile Rose had learnt that the rebels were in greater strength than he had understood when he had ordered the pursuit and accordingly despatched a reinforcement of two guns, half a squadron of 14th Light Dragoons and two squadrons of irregular horse under the command of Major Richard Meade (Ritchie I-109). Despite the enemy’s strength, Napier resolved to attack forthwith and, under rebel artillery fire, the cavalry and horse gunners charged. After a brief resistance the rebels fled leaving 300 to 400 dead on the field, and losing 25 guns, ammunition, elephants, tents and baggage. At 3:00 am on the following morning, the reinforcements arrived to learn of the victory which brought the Central Indian Campaign to a close. Combe returned to England on sick certificate in April 1859. He never returned to India, and resigned his commission on 15 September 1860, concluding a short but highly active military career.

Refs: IOL L/MIL/9/235 ff 84-94; The History of the British Cavalry Vol II (Anglesey); John Company’s Last War (English).