Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Punjab campaign C.B. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-General James Eckford, C.B., Bengal Infantry, late Royal Navy

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s, breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IN’ for John Northam, complete with wide swivel-ring bar suspension, gold ribbon buckle and gold top suspension brooch; Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Java (J. Eckford, C.B. Lieut. & Adjt. 6th Bengal Volr. Battn.; Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (Capt. J. Eckford, 6th N.I.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Punjab 1848-49, no clasp (Brigr. J. Eckford, Commg. 3rd Infy. Bde. 56th Bengal N.I.) good very fine or better (4) £5,000-£7,000

C.B. London Gazette 7 June 1849.

James Eckford was born at Dunfermline, Fife, on 5 July 1786. Prior to joining the H.E.I. Co. forces, Eckford served as a midshipman on H.M. Frigate Greyhound with Sir Home Popham’s expedition and was present at the bombardment of Boulogne and Havre de Grace, and subsequent destruction of the French flotilla. Eckford joined the Bengal Army as a Cadet in 1804, arrived in India on 10 July 1805, and was appointed Ensign on 17 November 1805; Lieutenant, 17 September 1806; Captain 20 July 1823; Major, 18 July 1831; Lieutenant-Colonel, 11 March 1837; Colonel, 27 October 1848; Major-General, 28 November 1854; Lieutenant-General, 29 April 1861.

Posted as Lieutenant to the 3rd N.I., he took part in the operations in Bundelkhand, including the capture of Chamir. He was present at the capture of Java in 1811, including the taking of Cornelis, as Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 6th Volunteer Battalion (Medal with Clasp), with whom he served in Java until 1816, including the capture of Jakarta in 1812. He commanded the Amboynese Corps in March-April 1816. As Captain he transferred to the 6th N.I. in May 1824 and was present with the 6th N.I. at the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor (Medal with Clasp). He was posted as Lieutenant-Colonel to the 6th N.I. on 4 May 1838, and was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 6th N.I., with General Pollock’s Force, and commanding at Jellalabad from 10 November 1842 [7 months after the defence of that place and not entitled to the medal]. Was commanding 6th N.I. on escort duty during the First Sikh War. He transferred to 7th N.I. on 24 July 1847, and to the 56th N.I. on 9 May 1848, being appointed Brigadier 2nd Class in October 1848, and commanded 3rd Infantry Brigade during the Second Sikh War, including the passage of the Chenab and action at Sadoolapore (Medal and Companion of the Bath). He was Brigadier commanding at Barrackpore from August 1854, and, as Major-General, had temporary command of a Presidency Division from May 1855 till 1856. Lieutenant-General James Eckford died at St Helier, Jersey, on 2 July 1867.