Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

A fine Second Afghan War C.B. group of four awarded to Major-General G. R. Manderson, Royal (late Bengal) Horse Artillery

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamel, hallmarked London 1877, complete with gold riband buckle; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Pegu, Jowaki 1877-8 (2d Lieut. G. R. Manderson. 9th Battn. Arty.) second clasp loose as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (1st Lieut. G. R. Manderson, Bengal H. Arty.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Majr. G. R. Manderson. 1/C. R.H.A.) light contact marks and wear, otherwise good very fine (4) £3,000-£3,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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C.B. London Gazette 1 March 1881.

George Rennie Manderson was born on 17 February 1834 and attended Addiscombe College 1849-51. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery on 13 June 1851 and arrived in India the following October, being posted to the 5th Battalion. He served with the 9th Battalion, Bengal Artillery, during the Burmese War of 1852-53, including the operations in the vicinity and capture of Rangoon in April 1852, and afterwards with the force employed under Major Fyche in the Bassein District in 1853 (Medal with clasp).

He served with the 2nd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery, 1854-56, and was attached for service with the Kashmir Contingent on the outbreak of the mutiny in 1857, taking part in the attack on Idgah on 14 September 1857. He afterwards joined the 1st Battery, 1st Brigade of the Bengal Horse Artillery, under Captain F. F. Remmington, and served at Delhi with Greathed’s Column from 8 September 1857. He was present in the actions at Bolundshuhr, 28 September; action near Allighur, 5 October; action at Agra, 10 October; and at the relief of Lucknow under Campbell in November 1857; the battle of Cawnpore, 6 December; action at Serai Ghaut, 9 Dece,ber; action at Shumshabad, 27 January 1858; action at Koorsee, 22 March (despatches); siege and capture of Lucknow, March 1858; capture of Fort Simree, 12 November (despatches); and the campaign in Oude from May 1858 to January 1859 (Medal with three clasps).

Manderson was mentioned in a despatch from General Sir Hope Grant, dated 26 March 1858 (London Gazette 6 June 1858), for his part in taking two guns R.H.A. into action with a squadron of the 2nd Dragoon Guards under Captain Loftus, supporting a charge of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry at Koorsee on 22 March 1858. He was again mentioned in a despatch from Colonel Evelegh, dated 12 November 1858 (London Gazette 22 February 1859), for his command of the siege train at the capture of Fort Simree on 12 November 1858.

Manderson was appointed Adjutant of Artillery, Cawnpore, in 1859, and Acting Adjutant, 2nd Battalion Bengal Artillery in 1860. He served with the 2nd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery until its disbandment in 1862, afterwards joining the 5th Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery. Promoted to Major in 1871, he served with 1/C Battery Royal Horse Artillery for the remainder of his career, commanding the battery in the Jowaki campaign of 1877-78 (despatches, clasp to India medal).

In the Second Afghan War, Major Manderson commanded 1/C, R.H.A., from the commencement of the war until February 1879, and was present at the assault and capture of Ali Musjid (despatches, medal with clasp, C.B.). He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 9 December 1878, to Colonel on 9 December 1882, and retired with the honorary rank of Major-General on 19 June 1885. Major-General Manderson died at his residence, Fullands, Taunton, Somerset, on 8 January 1918, aged 83.