Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Punniar Star 1843 (Ensign C. F. Smith 39th Regt. Native Infantry) fitted with contemporary replacement silver swivelling scroll suspension, good very fine £600-800

Charles Frederic/Frederick Smith was born in India and was baptised at Dacca on 31 October 1822, son of Charles Smith, a judge in Bengal. He was appointed Ensign on 27 September 1840, and upon his arrival at Fort William, Calcutta, in February 1841, he was posted on 5 March, to the 39th Bengal Native Infantry.

At the battle of Punniar, the 39th N.I., led by Brigadier Yates, was part of the force under Brigadier-General Sir John Grey that defeated the Mahrattas who were entrenched in the hills about Punniar. During the battle a wing of the 39th gained the crest of a hill commanding the enemy’s left, and after pouring on him a severe fire, charged and carried the battery opposed to them. However, total losses of the 39th were severe, with 13 killed and 49 wounded out of a total of 215 casualties to Grey’s troops overall.

Smith was promoted to Lieutenant on 18 March 1845; Brevet Captain, 27 September 1855; Captain, 23 November 1856. His regiment was disarmed and disbanded at Dera Ismail Khan in 1857, and for most of the remainder of his career he was seconded to the Indian Police as a District Superintendent in Goorgaon, Punjab. He was promoted to Brevet Major on 18 February 1861; Major, 22 November 1863; Lieutenant-Colonel, 27 September 1866; and Brevet Colonel, 27 September 1871. He retired from the Bengal Staff Corps in November 1874 and shortly thereafter was granted the Honorary rank of Major-General. He died on 6 December 1877, and was buried at the Ambala cemetery in Northern India.

Sold with copied cadet papers, record of service and other research.