Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Victorian C.B. group of four awarded to General H. H. Maxwell, Bengal Artillery, who served as Interpreter to Shannon’s Naval Brigade during the Indian Mutiny and was severely wounded in the thigh at the action of Khodagunge in January 1858

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, gold (18 ct., hallmarks for London 1873) and enamel, complete with all original fixings and integral gold riband buckle; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (2nd. Lieut. H. H. Maxwell 4th Co. 4th. Bn. Beng Arty.) fitted with contemporary smooth back-plate and gold bar suspension, with top gold riband pin; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (1st. Lieut. H. H. Maxwell. 4th. Troop 3rd. Bde. Beng. Arty.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Relief of Lucknow (Capt. H. H. Maxwell. “Shannon” Naval Brigade.) the campaign medals all slightly later issues, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a rare group (4) £4,000-£5,000

Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1994.

C.B. London Gazette 24 May 1873.

Henry Hamilton Maxwell was born on 3 March 1824, and entered Addiscombe on 7 August 1840. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery on 10 June 1842, and served during the Gwalior Campaign of 1843-44, being present at Battle of Maharajpoor. Promoted to First Lieutenant, he saw further service during the First Sikh War as Deputy Assistant Quarter Master General of Artillery, and was Mentioned in Despatches.

Whilst on furlough to Europe Maxwell joined the Turkish Contingent, and was present under Omar Pasha, at the battle of Oltenitza, and the Russian attacks on Kalafat during the winter of 1853-54. Returning to India he was posted to the Artillery of General Havelock's Force and then appointed to Shannon’s Naval Brigade under Captain Peel R.N. to serve as interpreter. Severely wounded at the action of Khodagunge on 2 January 1858 by a musket ball in thigh, Mate Edmund Verney of the Shannon in his letter home states, ‘When Maxwell fell, Dr. Grant galloped forward to dress his wound under heavy fire.’ He was also mentioned by Lord Roberts in Forty-One Years in India: ‘The Interpreter of the Naval Brigade Henry Maxwell, a brother officer of mine who had been standing close to me was very badly wounded in the leg.’

For his services during the Indian Mutiny Maxwell was Mentioned in Despatches and listed in the Governor General’s Order No. 1546 of 1857). Promoted Brevet Major on 27 June 1857, and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 March 1858, he was advanced to Colonel on 6 October 1872, and was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the following year’s Birthday Honours’ List. Promoted to Major-General on 1 March 1876, and to Lieutenant-General on 2 October 1877, he transferred to the Unemployed Supernumerary List on 1 July 1881, and was promoted to General on 23 May 1883. He died in Rome, Italy on 28 May 1892.

Note: Maxwell’s name appears on the medal roll of H.M.S. Shannon and he is one of only 2 officers and 27 men to receive the single clasp Relief of Lucknow.

For the medals awarded to Captain H. J. Hughes, who took over as Interpreter of Shannon’s Naval Brigade after Maxwell was wounded, see Lot 143.