Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The Persia campaign medal to Major-General Ross Moore, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the famous charge at the battle of Khushab

India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Persia (Capt. R. B. Moore, 3rd Lt. Cavy.) edge bruising, therefore very fine
£1500-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Ross Balfour Moore, the elder brother of General Arthur Thomas Moore V.C., C.B., was commissioned Cornet in the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry on 10 February 1839. He became Lieutenant in August 1842 and the following year he took part in the ‘conquest of Scinde’ being present at the battle of Hyderabad on 24 March 1843 (Medal). In February 1854 he was advanced to the rank of Captain.

In mid-September 1856, he joined the expedition to Persia in consequence of the Shah’s re-occupation of Herat, traditionally considered the key to Afghanistan. Swords were duly sharpened and on 1 October, Moore left Rajcote with his regiment for the port of embarkation which was reached two weeks later. Following the Shah’s refusal to leave Herat, Britain formally declared war on 1 November 1856. In early December, the 7,000 strong expeditionary force arrived in the Persian Gulf and successfully effected a landing near Bushire, which was taken after a naval bombardment. Moore, meanwhile, took part with the land forces in the assault and capture of the old Dutch fort at Reshire a few miles to the south. Six weeks later Major-General James Outram arrived with reinforcements and took over command from General Stalker. An advance was then made inland to Boorzgoon from which the Persians immediately withdrew, leaving their camp to fall into the hands of the expeditionary force. It was now generally believed that the Persians were retreating through the mountains and Outram decided to retire to the coast.

On the night of 7-8 February, however, the Persians attacked the rearguard, causing considerable confusion. But at length, the British force was organized into line, with the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry posted on the right flank with the Poona Irregular Horse. The light of dawn revealed some 6,000 Persian troops stretched out in a long line, with their right resting on the walled village of Khushab. ‘The 3rd Cavalry,’ Captain Ross Moore afterwards reported, ‘were formed up in close column of squadrons ... facing the direction of the enemy. The Poona Horse also in close column were on our right, the order being that each regiment should have an attacking and supporting squadron; as my squadron was in front, Captain Forbes, commanding the Regiment, accompanied it and it was entirely under his orders that the squadron acted ... Brigadier Tapp [of the Poona Irregular Horse] went off to the right at a hard gallop, I heard no previous orders given by Brigadier Tapp for this advance, but Captain Forbes immediately advanced and the squadron was soon employed in cutting up the Persian skirmishers who had advanced close enough to annoy the line of infantry ... After being thus employed for a few minutes we perceived to our left what appeared to be in the grey of morning ... a regiment of the Shah’s guard [in fact the 500-strong 1st Kushkai Regiment of Fars, one of the best regular units in the Persian army] ... They halted on the rise of a small hill and fired volleys at us; when we got close they formed a solid square with kneeling ranks and awaited us most steadily.’

Behind Captain Forbes and the Adjutant Arthur Moore, Ross Moore advanced with the squadron totalling 100 men as it gathered pace on the commands “Trot,” “Gallop,” “Charge!” Riding shoulder to shoulder with Lieutenant Malcolmson and Lieutenant Spens, Ross Moore dug in his spurs and steered his horse straight through the square. Emerging on the far side with Captains Forbes and Wren and such men as they had been able to keep together, they fell on the Persian artillery two hundred yards in the rear. Here Moore killed three drivers of a brass 9-pounder gun, which was taken and kept possession of under a heavy fire from the Persian infantry who were scattered all about. At this point Moore’s horse died, having being shot in three places. One musket ball had entered the front of the horse’s neck and exited from his withers, without initially impeding its progress.

Standing six feet and seven inches tall and weighing in at eighteen stone, Captain Ross Moore immediately set about cutting his way clear on foot, a feat which he accomplished unscathed. By this time the Sowars were crashing back through the square for a second time, putting what remained of the Fars to flight. Meanwhile, at the advance of the British infantry, the bulk of the Persians lost their nerve and throwing away their arms, equipment, and, in some cases, even their clothes, fled leaving seven hundred of their number dead on the field.

The 3rd Light Cavalry’s losses for the day totalled one Sowar killed, Captain Forbes and fourteen Sowars wounded. Thus concluded the action which the legendary leader of Indian cavalry, John Jacob, of the Scinde Horse, declared ‘the best Cavalry performance of modern times’.

For his part in the affair at Khushab, Ross Moore was recommended for the Victoria Cross by Outram who wrote: ‘After the fullest inquiry, I am myself quite satisfied that the undermentioned officers and men of the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry are well deserving of the high distinction of the Victoria Cross for their conduct at Khooshab, on 8th February, 1857, for which I beg earnestly to recommend them. The order of merit in my opinion is as I have placed their names: - Captain Forbes, Lieutenant and Adjutant Moore, Captain Moore, Lieutenant Malcolmson, Captain Wren, Lieutenant Spens, Cornet Combe [qv], Cornet Hill, Jemadar Runjeet Sing, Trooper Lall Khan.’ Of the above only Malcolmson and Ross Moore’s brother, Arthur, received the Cross.

In January 1858, Ross Moore served with the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry in Sir Hugh Rose’s Central India Campaign, and was present in all the actions from the reduction of Rathgahr to the fall of Calpee in May (Medal with clasp). He was promoted Major in 1861, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1865, Colonel in 1860, and Major-General in 1874.

Refs: The History of the British Cavalry Vol II (Anglesey); Our Soldiers (Kingston); A History of the British Army (Fortescue); Hart’s Army List.