Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Burma operations gold D.S.O. group of three awarded to Colonel H. M. Rose, Bengal Army, Commandant 27th Punjabis

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., gold and enamels, complete with top suspension brooch, pin lacking; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Capt. H. M. Rose, 41st Ben. N.I.); India General Service 1854-94, 4 clasps, Burma 1885-87, Burma 1887-89, Samana 1891, Hazara 1891 (Major H. M. Rose, 27th Bengal Infy.) wreaths of D.S.O. chipped in several places, otherwise nearly very fine or better (3) £2800-3200

D.S.O. London Gazette 25 November 1887: ‘For operations in Burma’.

Henry Metcalfe Rose was born at Sangor, East Indies, on 30 July 1848, eldest son of Field Marshal Sir Hugh Rose. He was educated privately and at Sandhurst, from where he joined the 107th Regiment in March 1867. He entered the Indian Army in September 1869 and subsequently served during the Afghanistan Campaign of 1879-80, with the Khyber Field Force. He served in the Burma Campaign of 1886-87, including operations of the 3rd and 4th Brigades with the Southern Shan Column. Brief details of some of these operations can be found in Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India, Vol. 5:

‘On the morning of the 11th December [1886], Captain Rose’s column left Wundwin, crossing the Samôn river at Palébyin; a Burman, who was captured and made to act as guide, stated that stockades had been erected on the road, trees felled, and pitfalls dug. After crossing the river the dense jungle which runs along the foot of the Shan Hills was entered. The guide was in the act of pointing out when some trees had been felled, when the enemy fired a volley, and he fell mortally wounded; a sepoy was also wounded. Advancing steadily through the thick jungle by a narrow pathway, with flanking parties ever on the alert, the column entered the village of Magyipaya, without resistance, at 1 p.m.

The village of Magyipaya is situated on open and level ground, with hills on three sides, which are covered with thick jungle and boulders. From these hills, especially the southern one, where a jingal battery was established, an incessant fire was kept up. The troops advancing soon drove the enemy out, and after destroying the village, retired. Directly the retirement commenced, the enemy following up opened fire, and at one time came so close that the guns came into action. Two rounds of case quieted the rebels for the time, but a desultory fire continued until the column got clear of the jungle near Palébyin. Our casualties were six men wounded.

On the 14th, the village of Othnewé was destroyed and Captain Rose’s force proceeded to attack Maungwet, about three miles from Kanswé. Two strongly fortified positions were found en route, the ground near them being formidably spiked. At 8 a.m. the village of Maungwet was occupied. It lies in a recess in the hills, and was undefended. Before picquets could be posted, the enemy commenced firing from the hills; their position was at once attacked, and they were driven out of a breastwork they had erected. On this occasion Lieutenant Reid, 27th Punjab Infantry, was severely wounded and three men were spiked. Large stores of grain were found here but, for want of carriage, they had to be destroyed. After burning the village the force returned to Yozun. The bands under Hmyat Maung having had their defences destroyed, and being considerably scattered, the columns were then broken up.’

Rose was mentioned in despatches, received the medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He subsequently took part in the operations on the North West Frontier of India, Hazara, in 1891 (clasp), and also in the Second Miranzai Expedition in 1891 (clasp). He was Colonel 26 September 1897 and was Commandant of the 27th Punjabis. He died in 1909. For the Grand Cross Star of the Bath attributed to his father see lot 399.