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

The Persian War C.B. group to Lieutenant-General Thomas Tapp, Poonah Irregular Horse, late Bombay European Regiment, who was severely wounded in capturing a gun at Mooltan, and later commanded the Poonah Horse in their famous charge at Khooshab in Persia

(a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1858, complete with gold swivel-ring suspension and ribbon buckle

(b) Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Mooltan (Captn. Thos. Tapp, Dy. Asst. Adjt. Genl. 1st Eur. Fusiliers)

(c) India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Persia (Bt. Lieut. Col. T. Tapp, Poonah Irr. Horse) small flake to white enamel on one arm of C.B. and light contact marks to the campaign medals, otherwise good very fine £3500-4500

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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Thomas Tapp, the son of Thomas Tapp of Dorchester, Attorney, was born on 19 October 1803, and was nominated for the Bombay Establishment by J. Reid, on the recommendation of R. Williams. Commissioned Ensign on 1 January 1822, he arrived in India on 17 May and was posted to the Bombay European Regiment. Promoted Lieutenant on 21 April 1824, he was appointed ‘to the command of the Corps of Sebundies in the Northern Circar’ in 1826. The following year he became ‘Garrison Staff Officer at Asseerghur’ where he was directed to superintend repairs to military buildings. In 1832 he sent in a memorial to the authorities, ‘praying for relief from the supersession he has already suffered and is likely to sustain to a still greater extent, in consequence of the consolidation of the 2nd European Regt. into one’. In 1834 he returned to England in the Marquess of Hastings on furlough, and, having been promoted Captain in January 1837, was appointed Orderly Officer at Addiscombe. In 1839 he left England and reported to the Bombay Army garrison at Aden where he served as Quartermaster of the 1st Bombay Europeans. In 1841 he ‘commanded a detachment of his Regiment in a night attack on a party of Arabs’.

Tapp returrned to India in 1842, and the following year was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General of the Poona Division. He was on furlough in Europe from 1844 to 1846, whence he returned to India to resume duties as A.A.G, Poona Division. In mid 1848, with the outbreak of rebellion at Mooltan, he was ordered ‘to proceed to Roree on duty to await orders’. Employed in the siege, storm and capture of Mooltan, Tapp was favourably mentioned in the despatch of Brigadier the Hon. H. Dundas for the assistance he rendered to Brigadier Capon (London Gazette 28 December 1848) and also by Capon himself in his despatch (London Gazette 28 March 1849). Brigadier Stalker also favourably reported Tapp’s conduct: ‘The gallantry of the following officers was conspicuous; Capt. Tapp, Dep. Asst. Adjtt. Genl., attached to my Staff, who was wounded in capturing a gun on our first entering the town, whereby I was deprived of his valuable assistance’ (London Gazette 23 March 1849 & 3 April 1849). In consequence of Tapp’s severe wounds, he was ‘granted a gratuity of 18 months’ pay of an officer of the same rank (Captn.) in H.M’s f[or]ce’. For services in the Punjab, he was promoted Major by Brevet (London Gazette 7 June 1849).

On 1 June 1849, Tapp was appointed to the command of the Poona Irregular Horse (later 17th Queen Victoria’s Own Poona Horse). He became Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 November 1854, and in October 1856 was appointed ‘to the command of the Cavy. Brigade proceeding on Foreign Service (Persia)’. In reporting the capture of Bushire in November, Major-General Stalker, commanding the expeditionary force, wrote: ‘Lt-Col. Tapp has earned my warmest thanks for the manner in which his arduous duties have been carried on’ (Calcutta Gazette 7 January 1857).

At first light on 7 February 1857, at Khooshab, Tapp led the first of two successful charges by the Poona Horse and 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry which broke and scattered the enemy’s 1st Kushkai Regiment of Fars. For services as acting Brigadier-General in Persia he was thanked by the Governor-General, and his name added to the long list of honours drawn up by Sir James Outram (Calcutta Gazette 14 March 1857).



The Order of Merit, 3rd Class, was awarded to Ressaldar Shaik Hussain Bux, of this regiment, for his conspicuous gallantry in the battle, ‘on which occasion he charged the enemy in front of the leading troops by the side of his Commanding Officer, Colonel Tapp, C.B., and was of great assistance to that officer.’

On 21 January 1858, Tapp was created a Companion of the Bath for his services in Persia, and from April 1859 to September 1869 he was an A.D.C. to the Queen. He relinquished command of the Poona Horse in 1861 and commanded the Bombay Brigade from 28 February 1863 to 7 November 1865, from which date he commanded the Northern Division of the Bombay Army until 1 December 1870. Advanced to Major-General on 5 September 1869, he retired on full pay with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-General and a distinguished service reward. General Tapp died at Fairfield, Bradford-on-Avon, on 17 May 1877.

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); Modern English Biography (Boase); IOL L/MIL/12/69; IOL L/MIL/12/79; IOL L/MIL/12/80.