The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

The campaign group of three to Private Henry Novell, 14th Light Dragoons, recommended for the Victoria Cross in Central India when he charged alone into a village and killed one of the enemy under a heavy fire

(a) Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (H. Novell, 14th King’s Lt. Dgns.) contemporarily renamed in upright capitals

(b) India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Persia (H. Novell, 14th King’s Lt Dgns.)

(c) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (H. Novell, 14th Lgt. Drgns.)

(d) Framed Testimonial, hand drawn and coloured, 540mm x 44mm including frame, describing the services of Henry Novell from his enlistment in March 1847 until his discharge to pension in February 1869, including his nomination for the Victoria Cross, embellished with illustrations of his three medals, regimental badges of the 14th L.D. and R.H.A., and a depiction of Jhansi from the Central India Field Force camp, signed with initials ‘C.B.L.’, very good condition, the medals with edge bruising and contact marks, the first good fine, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £2000-2500

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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Henry Novell enlisted in H.M’s 14th Light Dragoons on 15 March 1847 and embarked for India on 30 June of that year. He first served in the Second Sikh War, and was present at the affair at Ramnuggur and the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat. Thereafter he was present at the surrender of the Sikh army and took part in the pursuit of the Afghans to the Khyber Pass. He next saw active service in the Persian expedition and sailed with reinforcements from Bombay to the Gulf, and although most of the regiment remained stationed on the island of Bushire, in the Persian Gulf, Novell proceeded with the 90 men of ‘H’ Troop, under Captain R. B. Prettejohn, to the Shatt-el-Arab and subsequently took part at the capture of Mohammerah on 26 March 1857. Whilst the entire regiment gained the medal for the Persian expedition, it was only these few men of ‘H’ Troop that saw anything that could be described as action during the campaign.

Early 1858 found Novell and his regiment preparing to take the field with Sir Hugh Rose’s Central India Field Force. The illuminated testimonial accompanying Novell’s medals states his presence at, ‘the Capture of Rathghur 28th Jan. Action at Barodia 31st Jany. Capture of Garrakota 12th Feby. Forcing of the Muddenpore Pass 3rd March. Battle of Batwa 1st April. Siege and Capture of Town and Fortress of Jhansi 3rd to 5th April. Action at Koonch 7th May. Battle of Gollowlee 22nd May. Capture of Morar Cantonments 16th June’, all of which brought him to the town and fortress of Gwalior which was retaken from the rebels on 19 and 20 June. Next day the fleeing rebel army numbering 10,000 men attempted a stand at Jowra-Alipur but were thoroughly routed by the pursuing cavalry. Here Novell, still serving with Prettejohn’s troop, especially distinguished himself as Brigadier-General Robert Napier reported in his despatch dated, ‘Camp Jowra Alipore, 21st June 1858’:

‘Private Novell of H.M.’s 14th Light Dragoons, charged alone into the village and killed one of the enemy under a heavy fire, for which act of gallantry I beg to recommend him for the Victoria Cross.’

Sadly for Novell the award was not forthcoming but Sugeon J. H. Sylvester assumed that Novell had been awarded the Cross when he penned his recollections: ‘A bivouack was ordered at the village of Samowli until daybreak when the column again advanced, and overtook the enemy at Jowra-Alipore. Here, near the village, they had succeeded in bringing a large park of artillery: on either side were stationed masses of infantry, and cavalry hovered on their flanks. General Napier disposed his force in two lines: in front, General Lightfoot’s guns, supported by sixty Dragoons and two hundred and fifty Contingent sabres; in reserve, fifty Bombay Cavalry under Lieutenant Dick, and a squadron of Meade’s Horse. The enemy, as usual, fired first. Our Horse Artillery galloped to a small eminence, opened on the enemy’s right flank, when he turned and fled precipitately. The gunners and 3rd Contingent Cavalry dashed into the enemy’s park and took it almost without resistance. The fugitives sought cover of villages for shelter, while the cavalry accounted for as many as possible. Two or three hundred were said to have fallen, but without infantry it was impossible to clear the villages. Private Nowell [sic] of the Dragoons won the Victoria Cross.’

In December 1858, he served with Prettejohn’s detached squadron in the column under Napier which roundly defeated Feroz Shah and his army at Ranode on the 17th. Immediately after the battle, Napier wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Scudamore (see Lot 73), then commanding the 14th: ‘This morning the enemy were beaten and pursued with slaughter for eight miles, your glorious Fourteenth going a mere handful into the mass without looking twice ...’

On 1 January 1860, Novell transferred to the Bombay Horse Artillery which the following year was swallowed up by the Royal Horse Artillery in which he elected to remain until 2 February 1869, when he was discharged on pension.

Refs: Private Novell’s Testimonial; Historical Record of the 14th (King’s) Hussars (Hamilton); Cavalry Surgeon (Sylvester).