India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (1135 Sgt. H. Bennett, 1st Bn. Dorset Regt.) good very fine £600-800

1135 Sergeant Henry Bennett, 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, was killed in action by gunshot at Waran (Tseri Kandao), on 16 November 1897.

‘On November 16th, Brigadier-General Kempster’s force returned to camp Maidan. Before the rear-guard reached the Tseri Kandao several casualties occurred, and after crossing the crest of the pass and suffering more loss, it was greatly delayed by the number of wounded to be carried. The tribesmen, Zakka Khels and Aka Khels, followed close on our troops and had to be driven back at the point of the bayonet. Encumbered by their wounded and their ammunition running short, the 15th Sikhs were unable to retire from a height which they were holding on the northern flank of the main body, and the 36th Sikhs, with two companies of the 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, had to be sent back to their assistance. Being thus reinforced our troops attacked and drove off the tribesmen, inflicting heavy loss, which is reported on reliable authority to have amounted to at least 300 killed and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Haughton, 36th Sikhs, withdrew the force at his disposal, under cover of darkness, to some villages where he remained until the next morning, being attacked at intervals throughout the night. Unfortunately a party of the Dorsetshire Regiment lost their way in the dark, and were overwhelmed and killed by the enemy.Our casualties were 4 officers killed and 3 wounded. Of other ranks 26 were killed and 42 wounded.’ (Ref Despatch from General Sir W. S. A. Lockhart, KCB, KCSI, Commanding Tirah Expeditionary Force, dated camp Rawalpindi 26 January 1898).

The loss to the Dorsetshire Regiment on this occasion amounted to 2 officers and 9 men killed, and 9 men wounded, all severely. Sergeant Bennett was the senior fatality amongst the other ranks, whilst the wounded included Private Samuel Vickery who had won the Victoria Cross at Dargai a few weeks beforehand.