Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

A fine group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. D. Patterson, Exon of the King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, late 10th (Lincolnshire) Regiment

Jubilee 1887, with clasp, 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846 (Lieut., 10th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Lieut., 10th Foot); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Bt.-Major, 1st Batn. 10th Regt.) mounted as worn, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (5) £2000-2500

Charles Doyle Patterson was born circa 1821, and entered the 10th Foot as an Ensign on 21 June 1839, becoming Lieutenant on 4 October 1841. He served with the 10th Regiment in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46, including the battle of Sobraon (Medal), and in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the whole of the siege operations before Mooltan, action of Soorjkoond, carrying the heights before Mooltan, capture of the Dowlat Gate in command of the storming party, and surrender of the fortress. He was afterwards present at the battle of Goojerat (Medal with two clasps).

Promoted to Captain on 15 March 1853, Patterson commanded three companies of the 10th Regiment in Shahabad with Major Eyre’s field force for the relief of Arrah. He was present in the action at Dilawur and the capture of Jugdeespore, 12 August 1857, on which occasion he was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry (Brevet of Major, and Medal).

‘At 2 p.m. on the 11th of August [1857], Vincent Eyre, having been reinforced by 200 men of Her Majesty’s 10th foot and 100 of Rattray’s Sikhs, under Captain C. D. Patterson, set forth on his march to Jugdeespore. With him went Hereward Wake at the head of his 50 gallant Arrah Sikhs. Eight of the garrison enrolled themselves as troopers in Jackson’s Volunteer Horse. “Every one but us looked on the expedition as a forlorn one,” wrote Wake, “and the letters one got were like farewells.” After passing over their old battlefield, “where the marks of the bullets on the trees sufficiently evidenced the fierceness of the conflict,” they reached an open plain and bivouacked for the night. When daybreak began Eyre’s men resumed the march, and about 9 o’clock there was a halt, “just for a cheroot and a tot of grog all round.” An hour later, parties of the enemy’s horse and foot were seen occupying a village behind which flowed a small stream, which was fordable. Eyre pushed forward skirmishing parties in the direction of the village. “This elicited a sharp fire, which was maintained on both sides with great spirit,” until the rebels were dislodged from the hamlet. Three hundred yards away from it was the edge of a jungle, but no sign of an enemy. Then some heads were seen moving among the bushes. The British main body had now approached, and Eyre, advancing his two guns, gave them “one dose of grape.” Suddenly black masses sprang from the ground. The men of the 10th, mad with fury at the cruelty and brutality inflicted on their comrades in Dunbar’s disaster, were chafing at being held back. Eyre despatched Hastings with an order to charge. “With loud and continued shouts they advanced and charged, led on in the most noble manner by Captain Patterson, impetuously driving all before them.”

‘Driven back by the British skirmishers, Patterson’s gallant charge, and the destructive fire of the howitzer, the rebels retreated across the stream to the shelter of the earthworks. “There they endeavoured to make a stand; but were driven out by the joint efforts of the gallant 10th and 5th Fusiliers - the latter under Captains L’Estrange and Scott.” Behind the village stretched a thick jungle for a mile and a half, and through it the mutineers were pursued, and a running fight maintained until “at 1 p.m. we took possession of Koer Singh’s noted stronghold.” The 10th “fought like demons,” and “our men served the sepoys after their fashion towards our men at Arrah, for they hung up the wounded and the bodies of the killed upon trees along the road a mile and a half.” Fifty of the sepoys took refuge in the palace of Koer Singh, “the whole of whom were shot by the 10th men, who hung the bodies of the sepoys with their own blue shirts over the walls and left them to wither in the sun.” It was taking vengeance of their enemies that had hanged their wounded comrades. Such actions cannot be recorded without abhorrence and regret. These things are, however, written as a lesson. Let those who excite the masses to a fanatical war remember that then the horrible fierceness of beasts comes over men.’

Patterson was specially promoted to a brevet Majority for his repeated acts of gallantry, but retired by the sale of his commission in 1861. He was appointed Exon of the Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard on 13 February 1862, and held this position into the reign of King Edward VII until his death at Harrow on 3 May 1906. Sold with lengthy obituary from a local newspaper.