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

№ 1065

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23 September 2005

Hammer Price:
£1,400

Five: Major-General J. G. Harkness, 5th Fusiliers, late 55th Regiment

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Lieut., 55 Regt), regimentally impressed; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Major, 1/5th Fusrs.); Turkish, Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with scroll suspension; Pitt Club Medal, silver-gilt with cameo centre (Iohn Harkness Esq.), the five mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £1500-1800

John Granville Harkness was born in 1831, the only son of John Samuel Harkness of Ivy House, Ore, Sussex. He entered the Army in May 1853, being commissioned an Ensign in the 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1854 and Captain in January 1856. Harkness served with the 55th in the Crimean War, being present at the battles of Alma and Inkermann - carrying the Queen’s Colours and being slightly wounded at the former. Also present at the siege and capture of Sebastopol, including the sortie of the 26 October 1854, the capture of the Quarries and the assault on the Redan, 8 September 1855. For his services he was awarded the Order of Medjidie 5th Class by the Turkish Government. Captain Harkness transferred to the 5th Regiment in 1857 and served for a time with the 2nd Battalion at Mauritius - being appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Governor in 1862. Rejoining the Battalion at the Cape of Good Hope, he remained in South Africa until 1867 when he returned home to England. Promoted Brevet Major in March 1872 and Major in October 1877, he was posted to the 1st Battalion in India during 1878. He took part in the Afghan War of 1878-80, commanding a column which cleared the entrance to the Khyber Pass. Present with the expedition that crossed the Kabul River into Besud and in the actions against the Safis tribesmen. He was also in the expedition to the Kunar Valley leading to the destruction of Fort Abdul Khel. For these services he was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 July 1878. He next commanded the Battalion in the surprise attack and destruction of the Fort Bernares Khan and was with the expedition into Kama. Following the campaign in Afghanistan he returned with the Battalion to Mullingar, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1881 and Colonel in July 1882. Colonel Harkness assumed command of the 2nd Battalion 5th Regiment at Mean Mee, Bengal in May 1885, the 1st Battalion having returned to England. He retired with the rank of Major-General on 29 January 1886 and died at his family home at Ore, Sussex on 22 June 1900. Sold with copied research.