Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Capt. G. Short 45th Regt. N.I.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Alan Wolfe.

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George Short was born in Kenn, Devon, in March 1808, the son of a solicitor. He entered the Bengal Army as a Cadet in 1824, arrived in India in July 1825, and joined the 45th N.I. at Dinapore with the rank of Ensign. He was promoted to Lieutenant in early 1829, and to Captain in May 1844. In December 1844, Short marched with the regiment en route to Amballa but on the way was detached from Karnal to Khaital in command of two companies, and did not rejoin regimental headquarters at Amballa until later in the year.

At the outbreak of the Sikh War in 1845, he proceeded with the regiment to the front and, owing to the illness of Lieutenant-Colonel Williamson and the absense of all other senior officers, he commanded the regiment throughout the campaign, including the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon, and the advance on Lahore, for which he was promoted Brevet-Major in April 1846.

In the autumn of 1846, Short marched with the regiment towards Kashmir, in connection with the rebellion of the ex-Governoir there, Shaikh Imam-uddin, but, the Shaikh having surrendered, he returned to Lahore and in January 1847 he was again in Amballa. He proceeded on leave to Kasauli shortly therefter, and died there on 8 May 1847, aged 39 years.