Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel William Davis, 31st Bengal Native Infantry, whose good work with the Military Police during the Indian Mutiny gained him several favourable mentions

Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Ensign W. Davis 31st Regt. Native Infantry) fitted with original brass hook and additional ornate silver-gilt suspension bar; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Lieut. W. Davis, 31st Bengal N.I.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Major W. Davis, 31st Regt.) suspension claw slack on the last, light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £2600-3200

Provenance: The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2011.

William Davis was born at Cawnpore, India, in December 1825, the son of Colonel William Worsley Davis of the Bengal Infantry and his wife Letitia, née Gillanders. On the death of his father William Davis is shown on the list of the Bengal Orphan Upper School effective 15 September 1833. Educated privately in England by the Rev. John Phelps, and entering Addiscombe in December 1840, he gained appointment as an Ensign in the H.E.I.C.’s Army in December 1842. He sailed on the Robert Small, arriving in India in June 1843, where he was posted to the 31st Native Infantry. Subsequently present in the Gwalior campaign and at the battle of Maharajpoor, he was advanced to Lieutenant in March 1846. He was next actively employed in the Punjab campaign and was present at the action at Sadoolapore, and in the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat. He was also present in the pursuit of the Sikhs until the surrender of their guns at Rawalpindi, in addition to the subsequent pursuit of the Afghans to Peshawur under General Gilbert. Present with the expedition against the Affreedies in the Kohat Pass 1850. Appointed Adjutant of the 31st N.I. in May 1850, he served in this capacity until June 1857 when he was nominated to command the Calcutta Infantry Volunteer Guards with the rank of Captain.

In July 1858 he was appointed to the command of the Jhansi Division of the Military Police and went on to see considerable action in the Indian Mutiny. That September he commanded the cavalry of the 2nd Brigade Saugor Field Force at the action of Sahao and was brought to the favourable notice of the C.-in-C. in Brigadier McDuff’s despatch dated 5 September 1858, and in General Whitlock’s despatch dated 9 September 1858. Then, as Commandant of the Jhansi Police during the remainder of the operations in 1858-59, he was attached to Colonel Liddell’s Column in the combined offensives against Tantia Topee, under Generals Robert and Mitchell. He also commanded the Military Police in the successful attack against the rebels under Bajor Singh at Golma on 19 June 1859. The Cabinet Newspaper, dated August 27 1859, refers to this incident:

‘A small detachment of the 24th Bengal Infantry and one of military police horse and foot under Major Davis went in search of the enemy; but after knocking about for some time, on the 19th June the little force reached Joarum at one o'clock p.m., when the two rebel leaders were eleven miles off across the Dessaum River, close upon the boarder of Tehree State. Leaving all the heavy luggage at Alipore Major Davis made a rapid march at two o'clock and got up to the attack about five. Overtaken in dense jungle the rebels fled in all directions, about ten being killed and fifteen taken prisoner- amongst the former was Burjore's foster brother, perhaps the real leader on the occasion. It is believed that he was shot by Major Davis just after he had fired at Lieutenant Hawthorne.’

Over the next two years Davis and his Military Police worked tirelessly towards restoring order in the North West Provinces, especially in the Bundlecund and Jhansi Districts, work that was rewarded by the Thanks of the Government and further Special Mention, as illustrated in the following extracts from official letters dated 23 August 1860, and 23 June 1862:

‘In such a state of things it is obvious Police administration in the ordinary sense of the term could not exist. The rebels could be dealt with only by a Military Force guided by officers acquainted with the country and determined to restore peace. It is due to the exertions of the excellent officers attached to the Districts of this Division, and no less to the activity, zeal and gallantry generally of Major Davis, that at the end of the year the rebels had all been dispersed...’

‘In the Jhansi Division, which was overrun by rebel gangs and continued to be disturbed long after tranquility had been restored elsewhere, the demands on the Military Police were much more constant, the service on which they were engaged being much more hazardous, and the labour, exposure and fatigue, which they had to undergo much more trying. Now that with the cessation of disorder, they have ceased to exist, it is but just to place on record the high sense which the Government entertains of their excellent service in the Field and their praiseworthy conduct in quarters, attributed no doubt in a great measure to the zealous and efficient control exercised by Major Davis, the Divisional Commandant.’

Davis became Deputy Inspector-General of Police at Agra in April 1864, and gained advancement to Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1868.
At Nynee Tal on 7 October 1873 Colonel Davis was being entertained by the volunteer corps, of which he was commandant. His health was drunk and he was in the act of replying to the toast when he fell back senseless in his chair. He died two hours later. (A. L. M. Phillips - Anecdotes and Reminiscences of service in Bengal refers). He is buried in St. John in the Wilderness Church, Naini Tal.

Davis married firstly Sarah, the daughter of his father's brother in law, Major Robert Talbot, and had issue 4 children; and secondly Mary Jane Theresa, née Cockeram, at Cheltenham, 29 December 1863, and had issue 3 children.

Colonel Davis' personal photograph album is located in the National Army Museum, Chelsea, and several photographs are included with the lot including one of his grave. There are two group photographs in which there is only one man common to both. This is probably Colonel Davis. Also sold with a comprehensive file of research containing Davis' administrative police reports including articles about Thugeeism by means of poisons etc.