Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An early Indian campaigns C.B. group of three to General Augustus Andrews, who fought at Seringapatam in 1799, and commanded the Madras European Regiment at the battle of Maheidpoor in 1817

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, Georgian hallmarks but date letter obscure, maker’s mark ‘IN’, fitted with wide gold swivel-ring suspension and later ribbon buckle; Honourable East India Company Medal for Seringapatam 1799, silver, 48mm., Soho Mint, fitted with silver loop and ring suspension and with contemporary ribbon fitments; Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Maheidpoor (Major A. Andrews, Eur. Regt.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, very fine (3) £3500-4000

Campaign medals ex Phillips 1925, Needes 1940, Elson 1963, and J. B. Hayward 1975. The C.B. since added for display.

Augustus Andrews was born at St Omer, France, on 18 December 1778. Nominated as a Cadet for the Madras Infantry in April 1794, he landed in Bengal in the following December, and was appointed as a Lieutenant in April 1795. He fought with the 27th Madras Infantry at Seringapatam and received £430 prize money. As one of the ring leaders of the ‘White Mutiny’ at Musulipatam in 1809, Captain Andrews was given the option of court-martial or dismissal. At first he elected to be tried, but subsequently accepted dismissal from the service. In July 1813, he was permitted by the Court of Directors in London to return to India to be readmitted to the service without prejudice to his rank, and was promoted to Major shortly afterwards.

Major Andrews commanded the Madras European Regiment at the battle of Maheidpoor on 21 December 1817, leading them in a bayonet charge against the enemy artillery. The bayonet charge ‘was received with a discharge of grape, chain and round shot, which by its weight alone staggered the impetus of the charge. But with a cheer the British soldiers rushed straight at the enemy’s guns. The onslaught was irresistible, and though the gunners stood manfully to their pieces, which were even turned on the British line as it passed, they could not withstand the assault and were nearly all killed, while the guns, 76 in number, fell into the hands of the victors.’

Major Andrews’ services at Maheidpoor were extolled by Sir Robert Hislop in his despatch of September 1818. In 1818, at the attack on the fortress at Rajdier, he led the party which drove in the outposts. In May of the same year, when a sortie from the fort at Malegaum threatened the working parties, Major Andrews collected a few men to rush them, and was wounded during the successful repulse. His conduct in the attack on Malegaum received high approbation from the Governor-General (GGO September 1818). He shared in the general prize for the Mahratta and Pindari War of 1817-18, and was thanked by Sir John Malcolm in April 1819 for his services during the operations against Asseerghur (London Gazette 20 August 1820. He commanded a force against the Bheels in Kandeish in 1819-20.

Andrews was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1820, and made a Companion of the Bath on 26 July 1823. He left India on sick certificate in July 1824 and returned to the U.K., becoming Colonel in June 1829, and admitted to half pay in May 1833. He held the Colonelcy, in succession, of the 27th, 42nd, 1st and 8th Regiments of Madras Infantry, and was promoted to General in March 1855. Andrews, who was married but had no children, built a grand residence in Bath with seven acres of gardens and specimen trees. “Vellore House”, as he called it, still survives to this day as a fine restaurant and, amusingly, the current proprietors believe the name to derive from ‘a high point in his military career’! General Augustus Andrews died at Bath on 3 March 1858.