Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major W. R. Forster, Shekawattee Brigade

Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846 (Captn. W: R: Forster Shekhawattee Brig:) rank and first initial re-engraved and second initial neatly altered from ‘P’ to ‘R’; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Major W. R. Forster, Shekawattee Battn.) contemporary re-engraved naming, both medals fitted with scroll ribbon buckles and contained in fitted case, the lid with gold embossed Royal Coat of Arms and initials ‘W.R.F.’, nearly extremely fine (2) £350-450

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

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William Robert Forster was born at Hansi on 21 February 1817, son of Colonel Henry Forster who raised the Shekawattee Brigade in 1835 and commanded it until 1860, being awarded the C.B. for services during the Sutlej campaign. William Forster was appointed unattached Lieutenant and Adjutant with the Shekawattee Brigade from 1 January 1837, and served with the Brigade in numerous actions in Rajputana from 1837 onwards. He commanded the Infantry of the Shekawattee Brigade at the battle of Aliwal in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46 (Medal). Two of William’s brothers, Henry Pitts and Thomas Francis, also served with the Shekawatte Brigade at Aliwal and both received medals for the action.

Although on field service with the Shekawattee Battalion during the Indian Mutiny against insurgents in the Manbhoom, Singbhoom and Sumbalpore Districts, his entitlement to the Mutiny medal is denied on the medal roll with a note in the remarks column, ‘In Command of Reserve Force, Baggage and Commissariat Stores at Cheybassa February 1858’. Forster submitted a very lengthy Memorial in support of his entitlement to a medal for the Mutiny and, whilst he did not succeed in getting one, he did receive promotion to Major Unattached for Meritorious Service with the Shekawattee Brigade, as approved by the Queen in General Orders, 10 October 1860.

This interesting pair of medals was the subject of an article by Tim Ash published in the O.M.R.S. Journal for Autumn 1994, in which he surmises two things. Firstly that this Sutlej medal was originally issued to one of his brothers, Lieutenant H. P. Forster (who had died in India in 1850), and that William Forster, having lost his own medal, altered the rank and initials to suit his own. Secondly, being somewhat miffed at not being entitled to a medal for the Mutiny, he had one engraved up with his details, and placed the two medals in a specially fitted leather case ‘with its handsome lid to announce their, and his own, importance for posterity’.

Sold with a comprehensive file of research including a copy of the article by Tim Ash published in the O.M.R.S. Journal.