Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

The Punjab campaign medal to Captain Charles Lee, 24th Foot, killed in action at Chilianwala whilst leading his company to the attack on the Sikh guns

Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Chilianwala (Captn. C. Lee, 24th Foot) some minor nicks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

Charles Lee entered the Army on the 8th April 1825, as an Ensign in the 77th Foot. He joined the regiment in Jamaica, and served with it there for several years. On 30 December 1828 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and in 1831-32 he served against the insurgent Negro slaves, who had thrown a great part of the island into disorder and committed many excesses. He returned home with the regiment in June 1834, and during the next three years served with it in Scotland and Ireland. Towards the end of 1837 he accompanied the regiment to Malta, whence he proceeded with it to Corfu in the Spring of 1842, and again to Jamaica in January 1843. On 12 April 1844 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, Unattached, and placed on Half Pay. On 7 February 1845 he exchanged to Full Pay in the 59th Foot, and on 2nd May following he exchanged from the 59th to the 24th Foot. He joined the 24th at Limerick, accompanied it to Cork in the following January, and in May 1846 embarked with it for Bengal. He landed with the regiment at Calcutta in the following September, and after a short detention at Dum-Dum, marched with it for the Upper Provinces, reaching Agra in March 1847. In October 1848, on the outbreak of the second Sikh War, he marched with the regiment from Agra, en route to Ferozepore, to join the Army of the Punjab, and he served with it during the earlier part of the campaign which ensued, including the passage of the Chenab, the action of Sadulapur and the battle of Chilianwala, 13 January 1849, in which last he fell as he led on his company to the attack of the Sikh guns.

In the terrible list of killed in Her Majesty’s 24th Foot were included no less than eleven officers, besides Brigadier Pennycuick and Major Harris, Brigade-Major, who both belonged to the regiment. Brigadier Pennycuick was shot as the regiment first reached the guns. His son Ensign Alexander Pennycuick, seeing his father fall, rushed to his aid and bestrode his body until he was overwhelmed by numbers. Colonel Brookes, Major Harris (Major of Brigade), Captain Lee and Captain Shore fell among the guns. Captain Travers was cut down in the struggle round the guns; his company, the Grenadiers, were the first among the guns, and after having been once repulsed rallied under him and again carried them. Major Harris was unhorsed, and as he was retiring with the rest of the corps, was cut down from behind by a single Sikh horseman; he was mortally wounded and carried to the rear. Ensign Collis and Ensign Phillips, carrying the colours, both fell, struck by grape, close to the guns, and Lieutenants George Phillips, Woodgate, and Payne fell at the guns. To the list of officers of this regiment who were killed or mortally wounded at Chilianwala may be added the name of Major Howell Paynter, who lingered nearly three years, suffering from a wound received in this battle.