Auction Catalogue

23 September 2005

Starting at 11:00 AM

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

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 113

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23 September 2005

Hammer Price:
£2,500

The rare Hunza campaign medal to Assistant Commandant Mangal Singh, 1st Kashmir Infantry (Ragu Pertab Regiment), Imperial Service Troops, second-in-command of his regiment at Hunza in 1891

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hunza 1891 (Asst. Comdt. Mangal Singh, 1st Kash. Infy. I.S.T.) very fine and rare £800-1000

Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. A. Durand in his despatch made the following remarks relative to the conduct of the Kashmir Imperial Service Troops:

‘The conduct and discipline of the troops has throughout been admirable. As the officer to whom has fallen the honour of commanding a body of the Imperial Service Troops on the first occasion in which they have been called upon to fight in the interests of the Empire side by side with our own troops, it is with pride and pleasure that I would wish to draw the especial attention of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to the conduct of the Body-Guard [2nd Kashmir Infantry] and Ragu Pertab [1st Kashmir Infantry] Regiments. I have had these regiments under my command for two years, and have seen them grow in efficiency under the careful instructions of Captain Twigg and Lieutenant Townshend, and the steady efforts of some of their own officers. The result has been most satisfactory, and they have proved themselves fit to take their place in line with our own regiments in frontier warfare. They have shown coolness under fire, and discipline in camp. The attack by the detachment of the Body-Guard Regiment on the
sangars crowning the side of the ravine was a task to try the best regiment; and if the Ragu Pertab Regiment had not the opportunity of showing such high qualities, yet they showed no lack of keeness, when they had the chance of meeting the enemy.’