Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

The unusual Tirah C.B. pair to Major H.H. Maharaj Nihal Singh, Lokendra Bahadur of Dholpur

(a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with swivel-ring suspension and ribbon buckle

(b) India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Major H.H. Maharaja Rana Nihal Singh, C.B. Lockendra Bahadur of Dholpur) good very fine (2) £1500-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Major His Highness Rais-ud-duala Siphadar-ul-Mulk, Maharaja-Adhirá Sri Sawai Maharaja Rana Nihil Singh, Lokindar Bahadur, Diler Jang, Jai Deo was born in 1862. He succeeded his grandfather, Sir Bhagwant Singh K.C.S.I. as a minor on 9 February 1873, ruling over a 15-gun salute state of 1,200 square miles in Rajputana, inhabited by 250,000 subjects, chiefly Hindus but including some Muhammadans and Jains.

The Maharaja belonged to a Jat (Hindu) family which traced its pedigree back to the 11th century when it held lands under the Puár Kings of Delhi. In later times it acquired territory on the banks of the Chambal, and was powerful in the 18th century, when the Rana of Gohad joined the British troops in the Mahratta war in 1779. The title of Rana had been recognised by the Emperor Sikandar Lodi of Delhi, but in 1779 the British recognised the Rana as Maharaja Rana. In 1805 Lord Cornwallis granted Gohad to Scindhia, and in exchange granted to his ancestor, Maharaja Rana Kirat Singh, the territories of Dholpur, Bari, and Rajakhera. Kirat Singh was succeeded by Bhagwant Singh, who showed great loyalty during the Mutiny of 1857. His son married a daughter of the Raja of Patiala, but died before his father, leaving a son and heir, Nihal Singh.

Maharaja Nihil Singh, an Honorary Major in the British army, maintained a private army of 139 cavalry, 1588 infantry and 32 guns, and took part in British operations on the North West Frontier in 1897-98. The Maharaja Rana died suddenly on 20 July 1901 and was succeeded by his son Rana Ram Singh.

Refs: Memoranda on the Indian States 1934; The Golden Book of India (Lethbridge).