Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major-General H. G. Robison, 3rd Bombay European Regiment, late D.A.Q.M.G. Turkish Contingent

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Bt. Captn. H. G. Robison, 3rd Bombay Eurpn. Regt.); Order of the Medjidie, breast badge, silver, gold and enamels; Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, very fine or better (3) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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Hugh George Robison was born in India on 4 December 1826, and baptized at Ellichpur the following January. He was the son of Hugh Robison, Captain in the Nizam’s Army, and his wife, Elizabeth. He was educated at M. Lebel’s Athenaeum at Brussels, and was nominated for the Bombay Infantry in December 1842. Robison arrived in Bombay in May 1843 and was posted to the 7th Bombay N.I. the following month. He was placed on various attachments in the course of the next decade and was eventually transferred to the 3rd Bombay European Regiment in November 1853. He first saw action with the 7th N.I. during the 1844-45 campaign in the southern Mahratta country, and later as a Volunteer under Brigadier Hampton in the Nizam’s service against the Rohillas at Gowree. During the Crimean war he served in the Cavalry Division of the Turkish Contingent, as Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General, receiving the fourth class Medjidie and Turkish Crimea medal.

Returning to India, Robison saw action during the Mutiny at the siege and capture of Ratghur, at Baroda, at the relief of Saugor, the capture of Garrakota, the forcing of the Muddenpore Pass, the siege and storm of Jhansi, and the battle of Betwa. He was favourably mentioned in despatches by Brigadier C. Steuart, commanding 2nd Brigade Central India F.F., from Camp Jhansi on 29 April 1858. He was then a Brevet Captain and was confirmed in that rank in September 1860, while ‘employed in the Ottoman dominions’.

Robison was promoted Major in January 1863, and transferred to the Staff Corps in September 1866. He was officiating-in-command 20th N.I. in 1868, promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1869, Colonel in January 1874, and retired in June 1875. He received his final promotion, to Major-General, in December 1875, and died at Stoke Knoll, Bishopstoke, on 21 September 1915.