Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Nepaul (Lieut. Chas. Pearce, 2nd Bn. 14th N.I.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, fitted with silver riband buckle, extremely fine £1800-2000

Charles Pearce was born on 12 January 1790 in Minehead, Somerset. He was nominated for a cadetship in the East India Company in 1805 by George Smith, Deputy Chairman of the Company. On his successful admittance, Pearce opted to be sent directly to India. He arrived there on 19 September 1806 and was sent to the Cadet College at Barasat on the outskirts of Calcutta. He was appointed Ensign on 23 September 1806, and in the following year was posted to the 14th Bengal Native Infantry. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1809, and in November 1812 was appointed Acting Adjutant to five companies within the 2nd Battalion of his regiment. He participated in the Nepaul Wars between October 1814 and March 1816, following which he held various posts as Acting Adjutant, Adjutant, and Quartermaster and Interpreter, until his promotion to Captain on 29 March 1821. The regiment was renumbered 29th Bengal Native Infantry in 1824, and he was granted furlough from 17 October 1824, returning to his regiment in August 1827. In 1830 he was appointed officiating Brigade Major to the Company’s troops at Meerut and, following various periods of leave from January 1832, he was permitted to retire from the service on 24 April 1833. He returned to England in September 1833. The records show that Pearce was appointed to the rank of Hon. Major on 28 November 1854. He died at his home in Portishead on 21 February 1873, where he is buried with his wife in the churchyard of St Peter.

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