Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lt.-Col. Alfred Richards, Comg. In Assam) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, edge bruising and surface marks, therefore nearly very fine £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Alfred Richards was baptised at Cowbridge, Glamorgan, on 12 July 1781. He was appointed Cadet on 21 June 1796 and sailed for India in the Lascelles on 11 August 1796. He was appointed Lieutenant in the 5th Bengal Native Infantry in 1798, transferred to the 19th N.I. and then, in November 1803, to the newly-raised 2/23rd N.I. Promoted to Captain in June 1805, he was on furlough from August 1809 until November 1812. Returning to duty, Richards was in command of the 7th Grenadier Battalion in 1815-16, and promoted to Major in the 2/23rd N.I. on 19 September 1816. During the 3rd Mahratta War he commanded a column of infantry in a successful action near Gadarwara in January 1818 (London Gazette 14 July and 7 December 1818).

Richards was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 13 February 1823 and subsequently took part in the conquest of Assam during the Burma War of 1824-25. On the death of Lieutenant-Colonel George Macmorine, of cholera, on 30 May 1824, Lieutenant-Colonel Richards succeeded to the command of the forces in Assam. He was wounded in the action near Rangpur on 29 January 1825 which led to a complete capitulation by the enemy on the 1st February (despatches London Gazette 22 February and 9 July 1825). Richards himself dictated the terms of surrender to the native chiefs in Assam and received their submission. For his services during the campaign he was appointed a Companion of the Bath on 26 December 1826.

Richards remained on furlough from 1 February 1826 until his death. He was posted as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant to the 51st Native Infantry in October 1826; briefly to the 33rd N.I.; and to the 31st N.I. in December 1827, becoming Colonel of that regiment in June 1829, a position he held until his death. He was promoted to Major-General in June 1838, and to Lieutenant-General in November 1851. Lieutenant-General Alfred Richards, C.B., died at Summerlands, Exeter, on 17 November 1852.