Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

Three: Colonel W. V. Ellis, Bengal Army, Provost Marshal to the Kandahar Field Force

Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Capt. W. V. Ellis 25th Ben. N.I.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Capt: W. V. Ellis 25th Bengal N.I.); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Hazara 1888 (Lieut. Col. W. V. Ellis 14th Bl. Infy.) some light marks from star, otherwise good very fine (3) £1,000-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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William Verner Ellis was born on 25 August 1843, and was appointed Ensign, by purchase, into the 36th Regiment on 10 June 1862, and was promoted to Lieutenant, by purchase, on 9 December 1864. He joined the Indian Army in October 1868 and was posted to the 25th Punjabis, becoming Captain on 10 June 1874. He served throughout both campaigns of the Afghan war of 1878-80, taking part with the 25th Punjabis in the advance on Kandahar and Kelat-I-Ghilzie and the action of Takht-i-Pul [Saif-ud-Deen]; as Provost Marshal to the Field Force in the advance on Ghazni and to Kabul, the battle of Ahmed Khel and the action of Arzu; and with the regiment in the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar, and the battle of Kandahar (twice mentioned in despatches; Brevet of Major; medal with two clasps and bronze star). Promoted to Major in June 1882, he transferred to the 14th (Ferozepore) Sikhs in September 1887 and commanded the regiment throughout the Hazara campaign of 1888 (Mentioned in despatches; medal with clasp). Ellis was Commandant of the 14th Sikhs from October 1888 to August 1895, when he stepped down on reaching 52 years of age. He was ‘Residing out of India’ by July 1899 and was placed on the Unemployed List on 25 August 1900.

Colonel Ellis was the compiler of the privately printed (1912) booklet Kandahar Field Force, Afghanistan 1878-80, which contains portraits of all but three of the officers who took part in the march from Kandahar to Kabul and in the action at Ahmed Khel, together with selected despatches. Sold with an original copy of this rare booklet.