Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important Indian Mutiny Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R.C. Cross, Ferozepore Regiment, who put up the Colours of his regiment at one of our outposts to act as a guide to Lord Clyde's Army when coming to relieve the Lucknow Garrison

INDIAN MUTINY 1857-58, 2 clasps, Lucknow, Defence of Lucknow (Lieut., Ferozepore Regt.) dark toned, nearly extremely fine and rare

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Cogan Cross served throughout the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857-8 and was present with the Army under Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.B., from its first taking the field in July, 1857. During the advance on Cawnpore he was present at the actions of Futtehpore, Aoung, Pandoo Nuddee, and at the battle and re-occupation of Cawnpore, where he had his horse killed under him by a round shot. Afterwards at the actions of Oonai, Buseerut Gunge, Boorbeca-keChowkee, and at Bithoor where his horse was wounded. In the skirmishes of the 17th, 18th and 19th of September he protected the construction of a bridge of boats across the river Ganges on the Oude side for the passage of the troops. He was present at the action of Mungulwara and Alum Bagh, and the relief of Lucknow on the 25th September, 1857. Lieutenant Cross now found himself besieged with the force defending the Residency at Lucknow for the next two months and was severely wounded on the 6th October. The day before the relief by Lord Clyde's Army, he led 100 men of the Regiment of Ferozepore as part of a storming party to the King's stables and steam-engine house. Cross, himself, took one of the colours of the Regiment of Ferozepore under very heavy fire to an outpost, where he raised it to act as a guide to Lord Clyde's forcewhen coming into Lucknow. Lieutenant Cross also served with the Army under Sir James Ourram, K.C.B., in the Alum Bagh, and at the capture of Lucknow, and was present also at the crossing of the Gogra at Fyzabad in November, 1858, and in the operations on the Nepaul Frontier with the forceunder Brigadier Rowcroft.Cross was thanked by the Government for his services, given the brevet of Major, an additional year's service for Lucknow, and received the medal with two clasps.