Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Captn. Bainbrigge, Bombay Army, Attachd. to 50th Queen’s Own Regt.) unusual engraved naming in ornate running script, fitted with silver ribbon buckle, some heavy edge bruising over latter parts of unit and minor contact marks, otherwise toned, good very fine £200-£300

Robert Bainbrigge was first commissioned as Ensign in the 23rd Bombay Native Infantry on 17 March 1841, and promoted to Lieutenant on 11 May 1843, and to Captain on 11 June 1854. Prior to seeing service in the Crimean War, he had been second-in-command of the Sawunt Warree Corps, from 30 May 1853, and as commander of that corps from 1 February 1854. In General Orders dated Head Quarters before Sebastopol, 14 August 1855, Captain Bainbrigge, 23rd Regiment Bombay Army, is noted as being ‘attached to the 50th regt.’ His name is confirmed on the medal roll of the 50th Queen’s Own Regiment with a marginal note ‘23rd Regiment Bombay Army, attached per Genl. Order 14 August 1855.’

Captain Bainbrigge returned to India following the end of the Crimean war, and when the Mutiny broke out he was appointed Brigade Major, 1st Brigade, Rajpootana Field Force. He was killed following the capture of the fortress and city of Kotah on 1 April 1858. While searching a village outside Kotah, the huts of which had been used as an ammunition dump by the mutineers, one of the rebels set a match to one of the huts as Captains Bainbrigge and Bazelgette (95th Regiment) were going about their inspection. They were both killed in the explosion.

‘When the dust and smoke had cleared away, it was found that the shed had disappeared, while the bodies of the two officers had been literally blown into shattered pieces of humanity and were quite unrecognisable. Captain Bazalgette’s hand was identified, both by the ring which was found on his finger, and by the traces of the wound received at the Alma when carrying the Colours of the 95th... The remains of the two unfortunate officers were placed in one coffin (there being no possibility of getting more than one made in the time available) and were buried by torch-light that night in a grove of palms, Captain Carmichael, who had succeeded Bainbrigge as Brigade Major, reading the burial service. The funeral was attended by the whole of the 95th Regiment and the 10th Native Infantry, by all the officers of the Brigade, and by detachments from every corps in camp. The regimental Colour of the 95th, still stained with his blood when wounded under it at the Alma, was used as a pall to cover the coffin containing poor Bazalgette’s remains’ [and those of his companion, Captain Bainbrigge].

Note: Another medal to this recipient exists, reportedly engraved in the style of Hunt & Roskell, but has not been viewed by the cataloguer. Sold with full research.