The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

The important campaign pair to Major-General Sir John McCaskill, K.C.B., K.H., 9th Foot, Commanding the 3rd Infantry Division in Sir Hugh Gough’s Army of the Sutlej and killed in action at Moodkee

(a) Cabul 1842, unnamed as issued, fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension

(b) Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845 (Major Genl. Sir John McCaskill K:C:B: K:H:) extremely fine (2) £5000-6000

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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Three years later he exchanged successively into the 86th Foot and then the 89th Foot as Lieutenant-Colonel, joining the latter regiment at St Thomas’ Mount in 1827. He returned home again in 1831, transferred to the 98th Regiment, and re-embarked for Cape Colony in 1833, where he served eighteen months. In June 1835 he exchanged from the 98th to the 9th Foot and, proceeding to Bengal, joined that regiment in February 1836 at Chinsura. The next year he was created a Knight of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order and appointed Brigadier on the establishment. On 28 June 1838, while commanding at Meerut, he was made Colonel by Brevet and local Major-General. In October 1840, he reverted to the command of the 9th Foot, but en route for service in Afghanistan was appointed Brigadier commanding the 1st Infantry Brigade in the force under Sir George Pollock (see Lot 21) and the command of the 9th Foot devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. Taylor (qv). In February McCaskill was further advanced to Major-General and given command of Pollock’s infantry divison of four brigades. After the forcing of the Khyber Pass on 5 April, Pollock recorded his satisfaction thus: ‘From Major-General McCaskill commanding the Infantry Division, who was on this occasion commanding the rear-guard, I received every assistance’ (London Gazette 7 June 1842).

Following the advance to Jellalabad and the frustrating delay at that place, McCaskill was appointed to the 2nd Division which he commanded in the actions at Mamoo Khel, Tazeane and Haft Kotal. After the re-occupation of Cabul he commanded the force sent to destroy Istaliffe, the last stronghold of the Afghan chieftans. Thereafter he resumed the command of his division and was engaged with it in the several actions fought in the passes during the Army’s march back into India. For his ‘eminent services’ in Afghanistan he was created a Knight Commander of the Bath on 24 December 1842. On the breaking up of the Army, he resumed command of the 9th Foot which he held until the outbreak of the First Sikh War, in December 1845, when he was appointed to the command of the 3rd Infantry Division in Sir Hugh Gough’s Army of the Sutlej.

On 18 December, Gough’s army, having marched more than 100 miles in five days over difficult terrain to meet the Sikh threat, stumbled wearily into the mud village of Moodkee. Looking forward to a rest before meeting the enemy, probably on the morrow, the Army was on the point of going into camp when some Irregular Cavalry, who had been patrolling ahead, galloped back with the news that some 15,000 Sikhs with twenty-two guns were advancing towards them. Gough immediately ordered his guns forward to cover the forming-up of his tired infantry in line-of-column. Sir Harry Smith’s division was placed on the British right, Sir Walter Gilbert’s in the centre, and McCaskill’s, consisting of the 9th Foot, 26th Bengal Native Infantry, 80th Foot, and 73rd Bengal Native Infantry, on the left.

At about 4:00 pm, with only an hour of daylight remaining, Gough ordered the infantry to advance, somewhat strangely, in echelon of brigade from the right, as a result of which Sir Harry Smith’s division bore the brunt of the Sikh fire. At length, McCaskill’s division moved off, the 80th Foot and 73rd B.N.I. reforming from squares on account of reports of enemy cavalry. By the time the majority of the infantry had passed through the British gun line the air was so thick with dust that it was almost impossible to distinguish individual units not to mention the enemy. This was particularly so on the left, where the British components of McCaskill’s division suffered especially from the wild firing of the Native Infantry. Such was the scene, when McCaskill, gallantly leading his division through the fog of war, was hit by grapeshot in the chest and killed. Ultimately the British infantry closed with the stubbornly defended enemy positions, driving off the Sikhs who were only saved from a greater disaster by the gathering darkness.

Despite relatively heavy British casualties at the battle of Moodkee (872 in all), McCaskill was the only officer fatality of his division. He is commemorated along with Sir Robert Sale, who died of his wounds, on a brass memorial in St Andrew’s Church at Ferozepore. McCaskill was married in 1814 to Anne Steele, by whom he had a daughter, also Anne (born 1821). The latter married Lieutenant (later Sir) Henry Marion Durand, Bengal Engineers, who blew in the Cabul Gate at Ghuznee. One of McCaskill’s grandchildren by this union was Sir Henry Mortimer Durand (Ritchie 1-118).

Refs: W/O25/802; Soldiers of the Raj (De Rhé-Philipe); History of the Norfolk Regiment (Petre).