Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Indian Mutiny C.B. pair awarded to Brigadier-General Edward Brice, a veteran of the Coorg Expedition of 1834, who commanded ‘F’ Troop, Madras Artillery, throughout the campaign in Central India in 1858-59

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1859, makers mark ‘WN’, complete with correct gold swivel bar suspension and ribbon buckle; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Bt. Major E. Brice, F. Tp. Madras Art.) good very fine (2) £3,000-£3,600

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 March 1861.

Edward Brice was appointed Second Lieutenant, Madras Artillery, on 16 June 1826; First Lieutenant, Madras Artillery, 25 February 1828; Captain, by Brevet, 16 June 1841; Captain, Madras Artillery, 3 July 1845; Major, by Brevet, 20 June 1854; Lieutenant-Colonel, by Brevet, 20 July 1858; Lieutenant-Colonel, Madras Artillery, 5 November 1858; Colonel, Royal (Madras) Artillery, 25 September 1861; Inspector of Artillery with rank of Brigadier-General, from 1 November 1862.

Served in the expedition to Coorg in 1834 - was present at affair at crossing of the river, and Ramasamy, Kanaway, Beebaby, and Hunninghy; served also with the Saugor Field division under Major General Whitlock in 1858, was present at the affair at Kubrai 17th April 1858, and at the battle of Banda 19th April 1858. Brice commanded ‘F’ Troop, Madras Artillery, throughout the campaign in Central India.

The following extract is taken from the Memoirs of David Dinwiddie, who was Major Brice’s troop sergeant major:
‘To show you that all native troops during this time were not in open mutiny, I may mention that this very ‘F’ Troop when under the Command of Major Brice, in Secunderabad, was the means, under his well ordered plans, of keeping the large city of Hyderabad in awe and order, and under Providence, saved also the southern part of India from the fate of Bengal. For this important service, I believe, Major Brice received his military honours, and now, 1864, holds a good situation as Inspector of Artillery. Just think of the respect the native Mussel-men of this Troop must have held their Commanding Officer in, when they fired at and killed a number of their own caste and countrymen at a moment when the whole city of fanatics were ready to break out at the slightest success of their leaders, and murder every man, woman, and child of European descent belonging to the garrison of Secunderabad, which is situated a few miles from the Residence of their King or Rajah, the Nizam. If the Sepoys in Hyderabad city had not been held in check by this native troop at this critical moment, the entire people of the country from Cape Comorin to the river Nurbuddah, might have committed themselves, under the example of the Madras Native Army, which had been hourly expected to break out in open rebellion as had been the case in Bengal, in May and June the preceding year, viz., 1857.’

Troop Sergeant-Major Dinwiddie makes many mentions of Brice in his memoirs and also describes a close escape from an exploding gun-limber in May 1858:

‘Previous to finally quitting my troop; it was ordered out one morning, with a few of the 12th Lancers to reconnoitre the surrounding country, and to let the villagers know that they would be protected from the rebels, provided they would stay at home and cultivate the soil as heretofore. This being done, after a few hours fast riding, with the guns and Cavalry across country, we were on our way home, when an accident occurred, which proved more dangerous than the field of battle, viz., the blowing up of a gun-limber full of shot, shell and powder.

On the leading gun-limber two unfortunate natives sat, whom we had taken with us from Bandah as guides to show the way from village to village. The ground was rough over which we passed at a quick pace, this shook the limber boxes in which was packed the ammunition, which ignited through friction, a rather uncommon occurrence, but it should be remembered the weather was very hot. The ammunition had been carefully packed a few days previously. First a single loud report was heard, when we looked over our shoulders to see what was the cause; quick as thought three shells burst in succession. The next moment, the guides before mentioned were blown up in the air, torn into pieces, their clothing on fire, portions of their bodies, being afterwards found half-roasted; the guns and cavalry, which were all in the rear had timely seen the danger, and halted. The six horses, yoked to the doomed limber, two of them within a yard of it, on the first report rushed to the front in terror, the drivers having no control over them, and they were only brought to a stand, when the pole horses sank exhausted, having been burnt by the explosion and wounded by the splinters of the carriage and limber, which were blown to a thousand pieces.
Major Brice who commanded the party, and who was selected for this duty, on account of his knowledge of the language, Lieutenant Sewel, one of the subalterns of the Native troops, the Quarter Master Sergeant and myself were riding close in front of the leading horses. On the report of the explosion, our horses also stretched out at a full gallop in terror, but were closely followed by the exploding limber. We expected to have our bodies riddled by balls or splinters of wood and iron. In this case the strongest resistance to the force of the powder was from below, viz., from the strong frame of the carriage and axle tree-bed on which the two ammunition boxes were fixed, the consequence was, all the missiles of danger flew, sloping upwards over our heads, so we in front escaped uninjured: but the leading driver at the moment he was looking over his shoulder was struck on the mouth by a stray foot of one of the unfortunate guides, his lips were swollen for a few days; the centre driver, next in the rear, died of wounds received in his skull and neck; the pole driver, recovered of his wounds, which were (wonderful to say) very slight, he being next to the guides at a distance of two yards. One pole horse was shot to put him out of misery, the other five were soon fit for duty, a new limber was supplied from the large Park of Artillery, packed as its predecessor with ammunition, and the gun was again ready for action in a few hours after the accident. I shall always remember the blowing up of the limber, and thank God I escape. The families of the guides were paid a certain sum of money as compensation, and the widow of the unfortunate driver pensioned for life.
Major Brice had, previous to the accident of the limber, been suffering from his chest and the extreme heat; he was now unable to do effective duty, so his Medical man recommended a change of climate. Doctor Ford doing duty with the force, was also seriously ill at the same time, thus they both left the Army a few days after the limber affair on sick leave to Madras, to enjoy the cool and bracing breeze of the Neilgherry [Nilgiri] Hills; I was likewise ordered to accompany the two sick officers, and have an eye to their wants as far as Madras, and then join my new appointment at Palavaram. Accordingly I bid farewell to camp life for a time, and made the best of my way down the valley of the Ganges to Calcutta.’

Sold with copied research including the above-mentioned ‘memoirs’.