Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain H. J. Hughes, Bengal Native Infantry, attached as Interpreter to Shannon’s Naval Brigade

Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Ensign H. J. Hughes 60th. Regt. Native Infantry) Regimental number corrected, fitted with contemporary adapted straight bar suspension; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Capt. H. J. Hughes, 62nd. N.I., Interr. Naval Bde.) with retaining pin soldered to clasp backstrap, nearly extremely fine (2) £1,800-£2,200

Henry Joseph Hughes was born in 1825, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel R. R. Hughes, 62nd Bengal Native Infantry, and entered the Honourable East India Company’s service as a Cadet in the Bengal Infantry on 20 April 1842. He was promoted Ensign on 11 June 1842, and arrived at Fort William, Calcutta, on 8 August 1842. Posted initially to the 17th Native Infantry, he transferred to the 62nd Native Infantry (his father’s regiment) on 2 February 1843, and served in the Gwalior campaign during Sir Hugh Gough’s operations against the Mahrattas in 1843, being present at the Battle of Maharajapoor on 29 December 1843.

Promoted Lieutenant on 17 December 1845, Hughes was appointed Adjutant to the left wing, Kelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment, in 1846, and was directed to take charge of the post guns at Cuttuck, Central Province, in 1848. Appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Governor of Bengal in 1850, he was pronounced to have a competent knowledge of Hindoostanee in 1851 (Government Order 23 January 1851 refers).

Appointed Adjutant of the 62nd Native Infantry in February 1854, and promoted Captain on 23 November 1856, Hughes served throughout the Great Sepoy Mutiny and was present with General Windham’s force at Cawnpore until the town was relieved in November 1857; he subsequently served with Sir Colin Campbell’s force during the destruction of the Nawab’s Palace at Ferruckabad in January 1858. Appointed Interpreter to the Shannon Naval Brigade in February 1858, the month after Major Maxwell was wounded, he served with them throughout the operations leading up to the capture of the Lucknow, before being appointed to the command of the Bijnore Rajpoot Levy in August 1858. He retired on 3 November 1861, and died at Madeira on 29 December 1863.

Sold with copied research.

For the medals awarded to General H. H. Maxwell, who preceded Hughes as Interpreter to Shannon’s Naval Brigade, see Lot 76.