Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel S. H. J. Davies, 51st Bengal Native Infantry

Punniar Star 1843 (Lieut. & Actg. Intr. & Qr. Mr., 51st Regt. Native Infantry) fitted with replacement scroll suspension; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Lieut., 51st Bengal N.I.) fitted with swivel-rings between claw and scroll suspension, generally very fine (2) £500-600

Samuel Hugh James Davies was born at Brompton, Middlesex, in 1819, eldest son of Surgeon Samuel Davies, Bengal Medical Service. He entered the Bengal Army in 1836 and was posted to the 51st Native Infantry the following year. In October 1842 he marched with the regiment from Benares to Damoh, and having, in January 1843, been appointed acting Interpreter and Quarter-Master, he served in that capacity during the suppression of the insurrection in Bundelkhand. He afterwards accompanied the regiment to Narsingpur, Jubbulpore and Jhansi, and during the winter of 1843-44 he served with it in the Gwalior campaign and was present at the battle of Punniar (Bronze Star).

In July 1848 he accompanied the corps on service to Mooltan, and thereafter he served with it throughout the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the first siege of Mooltan, the second siege and capture of the place, and the battle of Goojerat (Medal and two clasps). He subsequently held the position of Officiating Brigade-Major of the Sind Sagar District until October 1854, when he was appointed to the Department of Public Works. Until the Autumn of 1867 he was employed almost entirely at Rawalpindi and Murree, at first as Assistant Engineer and afterwards as Executive Engineer. He then transferred to Ambala, and later held appointments as Assistant to the Chief Engineer and Assistant Secretary to the Government of the Punjab, P.W. Department, and Officiating Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam. In December 1868 he was appointed Superintending Engineer of the Assam Circle, and continued in that appointment until his death at Shillong on 22 June 1869.