Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Major F. W. Horne, 7th Hussrs.) nearly very fine £800-£1,000

Francis Woodley Horne was born in London on 3 July 1810. He was nominated as a Cadet for the East India Company’s Bengal Infantry for the 1829/30 season and was commissioned as an Ensign on 3 January 1830, and embarked for India the same day. He arrived at Calcutta on 23 April 1839, and was ordered to do duty as a Cadet with the 13th Bengal Native Infantry, followed by posting to five other Bengal regiments over the next two years. He was appointed Acting Ensign on 16 July 1832, but resigned his commission in the East India Company’s service in August 1833, having obtained a commission in the British Army.

Horne was appointed Cornet in the 11th Light Dragoons on 31 August 1832, and promoted to Lieutenant on 6 September 1833. On 8 February 1839 he transferred to the 15th Hussars, being promoted to Captain on 19 August 1842, and Brevet Major on 20 June 1854. He was promoted to Major in the 7th Hussars on 14 August 1857. He served with the regiment during the Indian Mutiny, including field service in Oudh from February to October 1858, including the affair of Meangunge on 23 February, the siege of Lucknow from 2-16 March, the advance on the Moossabagh on 19 March, affairs of Baree on 13 April and Sirsee on 12 May, the action of Nawabgunge on 13 June, the advance on and the occupation of Fyzabad on 28 July, the advance on Sultanpore on 13 August, the passage of the River Goomtee on 26 and 27 August, repulse of the enemy on 28 August and the occupation of Sultanpore cantonments on 29 August 1858.

In October, November, and December 1858, the 7th Hussars were part of a column under the command of General Sir Hope Grant in pursuit of the rebel Nana Sahib. Major Horne was drowned in the unfortunate affair at the River Rapti in December 1858, as described by the Marquess of Anglesey in A History of the British Cavalry 1816-1919:

“One of the last actions fought included the gallant but foolish charge of two squadrons of the 7th Hussars and part of the 1st Punjab Cavalry into the River Rapti on 29 December, 1858. Closing in on the fugitives of the Nana’s army, the speed of the squadrons ‘became tremendous as they neared the enemy’, wrote an eye-witness. ‘As the word “charge” was given, a cheer rose from the ranks, and they closed with a shock - men and horses rolled together into the river, which, running like a mill stream, was alive with rebels, trying to escape... Major Horne, who led the leading squadron most gallantly, was last seen in the river engaged with two sowars... Later his body was found... with a dead sowar grasped in each hand.’

An officer and three men whose horse had been drowned, and none of whom could swim, were rescued under fire from a sandbank by Major Charles Fraser who was himself wounded. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.

This charge shows a lamentable lack of restraint. To gallop into a fast-flowing river not knowing its depth or foundations must be foolhardy. It was lucky that only Horne was killed, as the river turned out to be full of hidden rocks, tree trunks and quicksands.”