Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The outstanding Indian campaign group of four to Brevet Major O. H. St. G. Anson, Commanding 9th Lancers, whose life was saved by Captain Charles Gough of Hodson’s Horse at the action at Meangunge, one of four instances of gallantry that led to the award of his Victoria Cross; lengthy Indian service in India, however, took its toll on Anson and he died at Dehra Dun in January 1859

Punniar Star 1843 (Lieutt. O. H. St. G. Anson H.M. 9th or Queen’s Royal Lancers) fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension and silver ribbon buckle; Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846, no clasp (Lieut. Octavius H: St. G: Anson 9th Lancers); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Lieut. O. H. F. G. Anson, 9th Lancers.) note incorrect initial; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 3 clasps, Delhi, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Capt. & Bt. Major O. H. St. G. Anson, 9th Lancers) the first three with light pitting from the star, otherwise good very fine, the last extremely fine (4) £6,000-£7,000

Provenance: Hayward’s Gazette, December 1975 (£780); York Coin & Stamp Centre, Price LIst, March 1984 (£1800); Gordon Everson Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2002 (£5000).

Octavius Henry St George Anson was born on 28 September 1817, sixth son of General Sir George Anson, Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards (whose Large Army Gold Medal group was sold in these rooms on 30 June 1998). He was a Gentleman Cadet at R.M.C. Sandhurst from 1832 to 1835, was appointed Ensign in the 3rd Foot on 27 November 1835, proceeded to India in 1837, and became Lieutenant on 8 December 1838. He was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor General from March 1840 until April 1843, when he exchanged into the 9th Lancers. Anson served in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, and was present at the battle of Punniar on 29th December, and in the first Sikh war of 1845-46, at the battle of Sobraon. In the second Sikh war of 1848-49, he was present at the passage of the Chenab at Ramnuggur, and the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat. He was promoted to Captain on 19 October 1849.

On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, Anson found himself in command of the 9th Lancers as the regiment marched to Delhi, all higher ranked officers being absent at the time. His subsequent services during the Mutiny are recorded in his letter of 10 October 1858 to Major Hart in London:
‘Services of Captain & Bt. Major O. H. St. Geo. Anson, H.M. 9th (Q.R.) Lancers. Present at the battle of Badlee-Ka-Serai, 8th June 1857; present at the siege and capture of Delhi in 1857. Brought the regiment out of action on the 19th June 1857 after his commander, the gallant Lt. Colonel R. A. Yule, fell. Present in command of the 2nd Squadron on the 12th August during the capture of four of the enemy’s guns by Brigr. Showers. Served with his regiment in the moveable column under Coll. Greathead and was present in the action of Bolundeshur 28th September, succeeding to the command when the gallant Capt. Drysdale fell severely wounded; affair of Allyghur 5th October, and battle of Agra 10th October; commanded the cavalry of the rear guard under Lt. Coll. Ewart, H.M’s 93rd Highlanders on the 14th November, during Sir Colin Campbell’s advance from Alum Bagh to 2nd relief of Lucknow. From 16th to 22nd November under Brigr. Little guarding stores at Dilkoosha and defending rear of Army. In command of 2nd Squadron, present with regiment at battle of Cawnpore 6th December, and subsequent pursuit of enemy and capture of 15 guns at Surajpore Ghat by Brigr. Genl. Hope Grant, C.B. Present with Hd. Qrs. of regiment at Khudagunge on 2nd January 1858, and subsequent occupation of Futtyghur. Present at the taking of the fort at Meangunge in command of 2 Squadrons on the 23rd February 1858; present with his regiment at the storm and capture of Lucknow in March 1858.’

Anson’s life was probably saved by Captain Charles Gough of Hodson’s Horse at the action at Meangunge, one of four instances of gallantry that led to the award of his Victoria Cross: ‘Fourthly, for gallantry on the 23rd February, at Meangunge, where he came to the assistance of Brevet Major O. H. St. George Anson, and killed his opponent, immediately afterwards cutting down another of the enemy in the same gallant manner.’

The following description of the action at Meangunge is extracted from the regimental history by Major E. W. Shepherd:
‘Pending the completion of the final preparations for the general offensive against Lucknow, the advance guard of the Army under Hope Grant established itself on the east bank of the Ganges, and employed its energies in dispersing the various small isolated bands of rebels still at large to the west of the Lucknow-Cawnpore road. The whole of this area was soon cleared, and after the capture of the old walled town of Meanganj on February 24th, the Ninth got well among the fleeing garrison as they sought wildly to escape. Captain Anson wrote of this episode: “No resistance was offered and no sooner were the infantry well into the place than the enemy came pouring out in all directions, and then our fun commenced. We cantered about three-quarters of a mile, when, coming within range of their muskets, we gave a shout and charged with all our might. In a minute we were in the middle of them. I nearly tumbled off my horse in a vain attempt to cut down a man who dodged me, then deliberately proceeded to shoot me. However, I went at another, but he dodged me too, and stood at bay with his drawn tulwar inviting me to come on. I was just preparing for a rush when Gough came charging down and felled him was a powerful blow on his head. Fawcett’s horse then tumbled in consequence of a man running right between his legs. Fawcett got up, cut the man’s head open, and mounted up again just in time to charge with me and nine or ten men through a patch of trees alive with brutes hiding in it. There were fourteen men killed in it. Evans of his troop started off with eight men after some of the wretches and killed about sixty, Evans himself, armed with a lance, killed seven, and each of the men seven or eight. Cole, also was armed with a lance, being used to pigsticking, killed two right and left with great skill just before he lost his horse. After this exploit the force moved on across Bunni bridge to Bantheera, to join the main body of the army in its advance on Lucknow.”

The 9th Lancers saw more action than any other British regiment of cavalry during the Indian Mutiny, but, of its 38 officers who received the medal, only nine gained all three clasps. All this service took its toll on Anson and, in March 1858, he retreated to the hills on Medical Certificate to recuperate but his health failed and he died early in 1859, ‘At Deyrah Dhoon, on the 14th Jan., Octavius Henry St George Anson, Brevet-Major of Her Majesty’s 9th Lancers, second surviving son of the late Gen. Sir George Anson, G.C.B., from the great fatigue and exposure during the late mutiny, having served all through the Punjab and Gwalior campaigns, also from the siege of Delhi to the fall of Lucknow.’

In 1896 one of Anson’s sons published the letters his father had written to his mother under the title With H.M. 9th Lancers during the Indian Mutiny. An original copy of this book is included with Anson’s group of medals.