Orders, Decorations and Medals

The remarkable campaign group of six awarded to Captain Robert Hodgson, 8th Hussars, late 16th Lancers, 3rd Light Dragoons and 12th Lancers

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (Corl. Rt. Hodgson, 16th Lan.) short hyphen reverse, officially engraved naming; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Regtl. Segt. Major Robert Hodgson H.M. 16th Lancers) fitted with adapted scroll suspension and silver clasp, suspension detached; Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon (Cornet R: Hodgson 3rd Lt. Dragns.) fitted with plain silver clasp; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Lieut. R. Hodgson, 3rd Lt. Dragns.); Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. R. Hodgson 12th Rt. Rl. Lancers); Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, the first five fitted with top scroll-suspension pin fittings, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6) £3000-3500

Robert Hodgson was commissioned from the ranks of the 16th Lancers having risen to become Regimental Sergeant Major. In making his application for a commission in October 1844, Sergeant Major Hodgson submitted an interesting memorial of his services to Lieutenant-Colonel MacDowell, Commanding 16th Lancers, in which, after detailing the former services of his father in the same regiment, he continues:

‘Your Memorialist came to India with the Regiment in 1822, on Board the same ship with you - the “General Hewitt” - was selected in 1823 as one of the Party to Escort the then Commander in Chief Lord Paget to Lucknow, served with the rank of Serjeant at the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor under Lord Combermere in 1825/6 in the Left Troop of the Regiment, and in the absence of Captn. Luard (on duty) you Commanded the Troop being the Senior Subaltern officer, this Troop I had the honor to belong, and in the night attack on the 27th December 1825, being on Inlying Piquet you directed me to lead to where the thickest fire was, in order to support the Outlying Piquet which Captn. Luard then Commanded, the night was a very Dark one, you rode by my side and was kind enough to thank me in presence of Serjt. Major Little for the regular and steady pace in which I led the Troop on that occasion. I also volunteered my services for the Storm and Forlorn Hope of dismounted Cavalry - on this occasion I received the thanks of Captn. Luard who Commanded the Party, and also of Col. W. Perfse C.B. who then Commanded the Regiment, and promised to promote me the first vacancy which he did. From 1828 to 1834, your Memorialist served as Troop Serjeant Major & was selected in 1831 as one of the Serjt. Majors with the Detachment to Escort the Governor General Lord W. Bentink to Rooper, where for the first time the Maha Rajah Rungeet Sing met the British Governor, at the return visit I was ordered to lead the procefsion acrofs the River Sutlej into the Punjab, the lamented Col. R. Arnold was present but you Commanded the Detachment. I was also selected by our late Col. as his Orderly when he went with the Governor General to witnefs the Review of Seik Troops, and since the 5th August 1834 have performed the duties of Regl. Serjt. Major.

Late in October 1838, the Regiment marched from Meerut to join the Army of the Indus then concentrating at Ferozpoor on the Sutlej. Whilst en Route to Ferozpoor your Memorialist suffered severely from an attack of cholera caught in the Jungles North West of Delhi and continued so ill that on the March of the Army destined for Service in the Scinde and Affghanistan a Committee of Medical Officers afsembled by order of His Excellency the late General Sir H. Fane, reported your Memorialist unfit to proceed and Memorialist was accordingly detained at Ferozpoor till sufficiently restored to endure the fatigue of being removed to the Head Quarters Depot at Meerut. This Lamentable Dispensation of Providence not only deprived your Memorialist of the honor of being present with the Regiment during its services West of the Indus, but also set aside the chance of Honourable advancement which his situation as Regl. Serjt. Major led him to hope for, and which was in fact bestowed upon the person who acted in that capacity, and which your Memorialist has every reason to hope had he been there, he should have been recommended for.

In 1842 your Memorialist accompanied the Regiment to Ferozpoor where they formed a part of the Army of Reserve, and on the 29th Decr. 1843, was present with the Regiment at the Battle of Maharajpoor.’

Hodgson’s appeal was successful and he was duly appointed Cornet in the 3rd Light Dragoons on 31 October 1845, becoming Lieutenant, 23 September 1848, and Captain, 8th Hussars, 18 September 1857. Hodgson married at St John’s Church, Meerut, on 4 July 1831, Maria Purcell, aged 14 years.

Captain Hodgson was present with the 16th Lancers at the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor in 1825-26, and was a volunteer for the dismounted cavalry storming party (Medal and one Clasp). Also present in the action of Maharajpoor in December 1843 (Medal). He served with the 3rd Light Dragoons in the Sutlej campaign of 1846, and was present at the battle of Sobraon (Medal). Served throughout the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the affair at Ramnuggur (charger wounded), the passage of the Chenab at Wuzeerabad on the 1st December 1848, with the force under Sir Joseph Thackwell, action of Sadoolapore, and battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat (Medal and two Clasps). He served with the 12th Lancers in the Crimea and was present at the siege of Sebastopol (Medal with Clasp; Turkish Medal). Captain Hodgson resigned from the army by the sale of his commission in 1859. Sold with original parchment commission documents as Cornet, 3rd Light Dragoons, and as Lieutenant, 3rd Light Dragoons.

Note: This officer’s 12th (Prince of Wales’s) Royal Lancers full dress Sabretache will be offered in our sale of Militaria to be held on 14 December 2011.