A classic ‘Soldier of the Raj’ group of four awarded to Colonel E. W. Cunliffe, Indian Army, late 45th and 9th Foot, who served for many years in the 6th Punjabis, afterwards 59th Scinde Rifles - which corps he commanded in the North-West Frontier operations of 1908

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lieut. E. W. Cunliffe, 2/9th Foot); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-5 (Captn. E. W. Cunliffe, 6th Punjab Infy.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Major E. W. Cunliffe, 6th Punjab Infy.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Bt. Colonel E.W. Cunliffe, 59th Rfls.), the second and third with one or two official corrections, generally good very fine (4) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Scinde Rifles.

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Ernest William Cunliffe was born in February 1857, the son of David Cunliffe of the Bengal Civil Service, and a grandson of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Cunliffe, Bt., K.C.B., of Acton Park, Wrexham.

Originally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 45th Foot in September 1875, young Ernest transferred to the 9th Foot as a Lieutenant in December 1877, and quickly saw action in the Second Afghan War when actively employed in the Khyber Pass (Medal). In April 1879, however, he transferred to the Indian Army, gaining an appointment in the 4th Sikhs.

An appointment with the 3rd Punjabis having followed in 1880-81, he removed to the 6th Punjabis in July 1882, in which regiment he remained employed for the remainder of his career, latterly under its new title of the 59th Scinde Rifles, and as Commandant from 1901.

Advanced to Captain in September 1886, and having served as Adjutant of the Indian Volunteers for a year or two, Cunliffe next witnessed active service in the Waziristan operations of 1894-95 (Medal & clasp). And a Major by the time of his part in operations with the Tirah Field Force in 1897-98, he was attached to the 3rd Sikhs and was present in operations on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley in August-September 1897, in addition to the storming of the Dargai Heights that October, when the Sikhs went forward with the Gordons over fire swept open ground (Medal & 3 clasps - the only such medal awarded to an officer of the 6th Punjabis).

Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commandant in September 1901, Cunliffe was given the Brevet of Colonel in September 1904 and commanded the Scinde Rifles throughout the Zakka Khel Expedition on the North-West Frontier in 1908 (Medal & clasp).

The Colonel died at Southsea while on furlough in November 1912; sold with an original portrait photograph, in uniform and wearing his medals, farmed and glazed, together with a file of research.