Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Colonel R. S. Colls, 32nd Light Infantry, late 39th Foot

Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Lieutt. Robert S. Colls H.M. 39th Regt.) fitted with adapted silver bar suspension and silver ribbon buckle; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Lieut. R. S. Colls, 32nd Foot.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Lieut. R. S. Colls, H.M. 32nd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Capt. R. S. Colls, 32nd L.I.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle, the Punjab and Mutiny medals with contact pitting to edges from the Star, these three good fine or better, the I.G.S. better than very fine (4) £1,800-£2,200

Robert Stacy Colls was appointed Ensign in the 39th Regiment on 14 February 1840, and promoted to Lieutenant on 24 April 1843; Captain, 32nd Light Infantry, 20 February 1855; Major, 26 April 1859.

Major Colls served with the 39th Regiment in the battle of Maharajpore (Medal). Served with the 32nd in the Punjub campaign of 1858-49, and was present at the second siege operations before Mooltan, including the storm and capture of the city, and surrender of the fortress; also present at the surrender of the garrison of Cheniote, and at the battle of Goojerat (Medal and Clasps). Served in the operations against the Hill Tribes on the Peshawur Frontier in 1851-52, and was present at the affairs of Praunghur and Shahcote (Medal with Clasp). Served during the Indian Mutiny in 1857-59, and present as Field Engineer to the force under Brigadier Berkeley at the capture of the forts of Dehaign and Tyrhool (mentioned in despatches); also as D.A.Q.M. General to Brigadier Pinckney’s force during the campaign in Oude (Brevet of Major, Medal).

The 32nd had no battle casualties in the expeditions on the North West Frontier in March and May 1852. On 9 November 1852, the regiment was paraded and received their Punjab Medals but had to wait until 1869 for their I.G.S. Medal with clasp North West Frontier. By this time Colls had retired having been placed on Half-Pay with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1866. He finally retired from the service with the sale of his commission on 1 February 1873.