China 1842 (C. Kensington, Lieutt., 14th Madras Nat. Infantry) original straight bar suspension, minor edge bruising, very fine £800-900

Ex Ritchie Collection, D.N.W. 23 September 2005.

Charles Kensington, the son of Henry Warner Kensington of the Madras Civil Service, was born at Madras in 1820. He was nominated for a Cadetship in the Madras Service by J. Shore, Esq., and entered the Military Seminary, Addiscombe, in August 1835. He returned to India on 14 December 1837 and was posted Ensign in the 14th Madras Native Infantry, but had to do duty with the 16th Madras N.I. at Palaveram until a vacancy occurred in his own corps. He was promoted Lieutenant on 8 October 1839 and, in 1842, saw active service with the 14th Madras N.I. during operations on the Yangtse Kiang River. In 1843 he was appointed Quartermaster and Interpreter and afterwards served as Adjutant to the left wing of his regiment. Lieutenant Kensington drowned at Kulladgnee on 1 August 1851. Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); IOL L/MIL/11/45. With copied research.