Auction Catalogue
Create new list'That illustrious garrison, which by its constancy in enduring privations, and by its valour in action, has already obtained for itself the sympathy and respect of every soldier, has now, sallying forth from its walls, under the command of its gallant leader, Major-General Sir Robert Sale, thoroughly beaten in open field an enemy of more than three times its number, taken the standards of its boasted cavalry, destroyed their camp, and recaptured four guns, which, under circumstances which can never occur again, had during last winter fallen into their hands.'
Lord Ellenborough in praise of the defenders of Jellalabad
An outstanding and impressive First Afghan War, Defence of Jellalabad, Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaign group of eight awarded to Major-General George King, 13th or Prince Albert’s Light Infantry
Ghuznee 1839 (*Lieut. Geoe. King. XIII. P.A. Lt. Inf.*) original suspension, with twin-buckle silver ribbon brooch buckle; Defence of Jellalabad 1842, Mural Crown (*Lieut. Geoe. King. XIII. P.A. Lt. Inf.*) with silver-gilt ribbon brooch buckle; Cabul 1842 (*Capt. Geoe. King. XIII. P.A. Lt. Inf.*) fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension, with silver-gilt ribbon brooch buckle, these three all with correct regimentally engraved naming; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Majr. G. King. 13th or P.A. Lt. Inftry.) regimentally engraved naming with additional palm decoration, clasp loose on ribbon as issued, with silver-gilt ribbon brooch buckle; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lt. Col. Geo King, 1st Bn. 13th Lt. Infy.) officially impressed naming, with silver-gilt ribbon brooch buckle; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Knight’s breast badge, silver, gold and enamels, considerable damage to enamels at the bent points and wreaths; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, with silver-gilt ribbon brooch buckle; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (Lieut. Coln. G. King, 13th or P.A. Lt. Inftry.) regimentally engraved naming with additional palm decoration, fitted with Crimean suspension, all contained in a fine old custom made leather and gilt-tooled display case internal hinged glazed frame and outer double hinged opening lid, catches broken, together with miniatures of all but the Turkish Crimea displayed below the full size medals, these all unusually good quality contemporary pieces in excellent condition, some with additional engraved embellishments, the first three with light contact marks and unless otherwise described, generally nearly very fine or better (15) £5,000-£6,000
George King was born on 28 March 1812, and was first commissioned as Ensign in the 13th Light Infantry on 13 April 1831; Lieutenant, by purchase, 16 January 1834; Captain, 2 August 1842; Brevet Major, 20 June 1854; Major, 31 August 1855; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, 26 December 1856; Lieutenant-Colonel, 17 November 1857; Colonel, 6 March 1863; Major-General, 19 January 1864.
Major-General King served throughout the campaigns in Afghanistan from 1838 to 1842 inclusive, including the storm and capture of Ghuznee (Medal), storming the Khoord Cabool Pass, affair of Tezeen, forcing the Jugdulluck Pass, reduction of the fort of Mamoo Khail, defence of Jellalabad, and sorties on the 14th November and 1st December 1841, 11th March, 24th March, and 1st April 1842, general action and defeat of Akbar Khan before Jugdulluck, general action of Tezeen, and recapture of Cabool (Medal). Served in the Crimea from 30th June 1855, and was at the siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal and Clasp, Knight of the Legion of Honour, 5th Class of the Medjidie, and Turkish Medal). He served in the Indian Campaign, and commanded the left Wing 13th Light Infantry in the operations under Colonel Kelly in Tirboot and the Terai, including the actions at Bootwab on 25th and 28th March 1859 (Medal). Major-General King died on 11 March 1868.
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