Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Colonel J. D. Carmichael (formerly Carmichael Smyth) C.B., 32nd Light Infantry, who was wounded when leading the Right Column of attack at the storm and capture of the city of Mooltan, and commanded the 32nd throughout the campaign in Oudh in 1858, for which services he was awarded the C.B. in 1859

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Captn. Carmichael, 32nd Foot.) rank and surname re-engraved (see note below); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Captn. Carmichael, H.M. 32nd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lieut.-Col. J. P. Carmichael. 32nd L.I.) note second initial, mounted court style for display with provision for C.B. breast badge, bright cleaned, otherwise good very fine (3) £1,800-£2,200

James Dodington Carmichael Smyth was born on 14 August 1820, son of David Scott Carmichael Smyth and Anne Sherwood. He was educated at Eton College and was commissioned Ensign in the 31st Foot, then serving in India, on 12 July 1839, and was promoted Lieutenant on 11 May 1841. Later that year, wanting to serve in Europe, he exchanged with an officer in the 32nd Foot, whose regiment had just returned to the U.K. from Canada. He became Captain, by purchase, on 18 April 1845.

Captain Carmichael Smyth served with the 32nd Foot at the first and second siege operations before Mooltan, and was at the action of Soorjkoond; he led the Right Column of attack at the storm and capture of the city of Mooltan, 2 January 1849, and was badly wounded in the head, as narrated by Private Waterfield of the 32nd in his diary:

‘There was not room to take us up in sections, so we formed four deep, and awaited the signal to advance, which was the firing of a salvo from our batteries at 3 p.m. I was in the front four, and we was headed by Captain J. D. C. Smyth of our Company... On the signal being given I waived my hand to my brother: when Captain Smyth waving his sword, gave us the ‘Forward!’, when onward we dashed, giving a cheer that instantly drew from the enemy showers of musketry. Though the ground was broken and narrow, and descending to the city wall, we soon reached the wall and found what they called a breach to be a small hole in the wall, where a small man could hardly get through. The enemy now peppered us with every kind of missiles. Our gallant leader Captain Smyth received a heavy blow on the back of the head; the blood gushed forth from the wound. I told him he was wounded, and he replied, “It’s of no consequence!’. But I could tell by his looks he was suffering greatly, but finding any attempt to get in the city at this point quite useless, he gave us the order to retire, and enter the town by the Bloody Bastion... our regiment took the right of the town... Our brave Captain held out to the last; he fell in the street, having fainted from loss of blood.’

Carmichael Smyth was mentioned in General Frederick Markham’s despatch (London Gazette 23 March 1849). He was afterwards present at the surrender of the fortress on 22 January, as also at the surrender of the Fort and garrison of Cheniote, and at the battle of Goojerat (Medal with two Clasps - shown on medal roll as Capt. J. D. C. Smyth). He returned to England for two years’ furlough in March 1849 and rejoined his regiment in 1851, at which time it was stationed at Jullunder. He served with the 32nd against the Hill Tribes on the Peshawur frontier in 1851-52 (Medal with Clasp - authorised in October 1868 and therefore correctly named to Carmichael)).

In 1853, James Carmichael Smyth and his siblings made the decision to legally change their name by royal licence, which was accordingly announced in the State Bulletin, Whitehall, June 16, 1853: ‘ The Queen has been pleased to grant unto James Dodington Carmichael Smyth, Esquire, Captain in the 32nd (the Cornwall) Regiment of Foot, Charles Paget Carmichael Smyth, Esquire, of the Civil Service of the East India Company on their Bengal Establishment, David Fremantle Carmichael Smyth, Esquire, of the Civil Service of the East India Company on their Madras Establishment, George Lynedoch Carmichael Smyth, Esquire, a Lieutenant in the 95th (the Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot, and to their only sister Louisa Maria Carmichael Smyth, Spinster, a minor, Her royal licence and authority that they may respectively discontinue the use of the surname of Smyth and henceforth bear and use their paternal surname of Carmichael only.’ Commission signed by the Queen.

There seems to be no record of why this decision had been taken to expunge the name of Smyth, possibly for reasons of inheritance, but one of Captain Carmichael’s actions appears to have been to alter the naming on his Punjab medal. From 1855 to March 1857, the regiment was at Kasauli, in the Himalayan foothills, near Simla. During this time Carmichael received his promotion to Major in February 1855, and to Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1856.

When the Mutiny broke out in 1857, one company of the 32nd was at Cawnpore and became victims of the infamous massacre. The remainder of the 32nd formed the garrison of Lucknow and held the Residency in an epic defence from May to December 1857. Carmichael is thought to have been in England on furlough at this time and rejoined the 32nd in mid-1858 when, following the deaths of many of his senior colleagues, he became Commanding Officer. For the remainder of the campaign the 32nd was engaged in operations to pacify Oudh, the area east of Lucknow. He commanded the regiment at the successful attack on the entrenched position at Dehaign, capture of the Fort of Tyrhool, action of Doadpore, on which occasion he was thanked by Sir Alfred Horsford ‘for the able manner in which he commanded the infantry’; the affair at Jugdespore, surrender of the Forts of Amethee and Shunkerpore. On 1 December 1858, he was appointed by Lord Clyde to the command of a Moveable Column, which, acting in conjunction with his Lordship’s force, was sent in pursuit of the rebel chief Beni Maddoo, to drive him and his troops across the river Gogra - this object the Column successfully accomplished; Carmichael was mentioned in Lord Clyde’s despatch as ‘distinguished for the decision and celerity of his movements’ (Medal and C.B.).

In March 1859, the 32nd embarked in the troopship Albuera for England. After five months at sea it disembarked at Portsmouth where, on 26 August, Queen Victoria inspected the regiment. The Queen congratulated Carmichael on the soldierly bearing and clean appearance of the men, remarking that they looked rather as if they had just come from barracks than off a long voyage after an arduous campaign. It probably does not bear thinking about what kind of regime was in place on board ship to get the men into such a good state.

Carmichael’s C.B. had been approved by the Queen on 16 May 1859, and was announced in the London Gazette on the following day. The regiment proceeded by rail to Dover where it was honoured with a civic reception and banquet. In August 1860 the regiment was posted to Aldershot, where it was inspected by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge. On 25 September 1860, Carmichael retired on half-pay. He transferred to the 94th Foot on 18 February 1862, was promoted to Colonel on 2 March 1863, and retired finally on 15 October 1870, to reside at Rose Cottage, Cosham, Hampshire. Colonel James Carmichael died on 13 May 1893.