Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Sibley, 64th Regiment, second in command at the defence of the Alum Bagh in 1857-58, late 13th and 62nd Regiments

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Ensign C. W. Sibley, 13th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Sutlej 1845-46, for Ferozeshuhur 1845 (Capt. Chas. W: Sibley 62nd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Lieut. Coll. C. W. Sibley, 64th Regt.) good very fine or better (3) £2000-2500

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

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Charles William Sibley began his military career in October 1820, in the 17th Foot, and thereafter in the 87th Foot from May 1822 to October 1824, all in the East Indies. However, according to his record of service the above appointments were cancelled at Horse Guards in consequence of the vacancies being filled up from Military College. Sibley’s confirmed service began with the 13th Foot, with which he saw action in the Burma War of 1824. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1826, then served in the 46th Foot, later moving to the 26th Foot in May 1830. His promotion to Captain in August 1842 found him with the 62nd Foot, with which regiment he saw action during the First Sikh War, being severely wounded at Ferozeshuhur in December 1845.

In 1850 Sibley moved to the 64th Foot, the last regimental change of his career. He was promoted Brevet Major in June 1854 and served in the Persian campaign of 1856, as Brigade Major, being present at the storming and capture of Reshire and the surrender of Bushire, under Major-General Foster Stalker. He accompanied the force to Borazgoon and was present at the night attack and battle of Khoosh’Ab under Major-General Sir James Outram, being thanked for his services by the Governor General in Council and promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.

Sibley saw extensive action during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59, being present with General Havelock’s column in the actions of Futtehpore, Aoung, Pandoo Nuddu, Cawnpore, Mungulwara and at the Alum Bagh. He served in the defence of the latter place from November 1857 until March 1858, as second-in-command to Major MacIntyre, and for a period of several weeks as Acting Commanding Officer during MacIntyre’s illness. For his services in the defence he was mentioned in the despatch of Sir J. Outram (Calcutta Gazette 17 February 1858) and confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 10 January 1858. Later in 1858, he was present at the capture of Lucknow and at the action at Kerkeroulie and the capture of Bareilly. Sibley proceeded on leave to England in 1859, dying there in September of that year.

Whilst he clearly did qualify for the medal and clasp for the Persian campaign, the medal roll for the 64th Foot supports the belief that the medal was not actually issued to him, through clerical error, uncorrected by the time of his death in 1859.