A Collection of India General Service Medals 1854-95

Lieutenant A. D. C. Inglis, 14th Sikhs, severely wounded at the Crag Piquet on 18 November 1863

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Umbeyla (Lieut. A. D. C. Inglis, 14th Native Infy.) toned, extremely fine £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of India General Service Medals 1854-95.

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Lieutenant Inglis was on the Crag Piquet when it was lost for the second time on 13 November 1863. The first counter-attack came from the 1st Punjabis when Lieutenant H. W. Pitcher and Lieutenant H. R. Young led a charge back up the slope. Pitcher fell severely wounded and Young took his place together with a detachment of Guides under Lieutenant W. J. Furlong, but the enemy fire was too strong and the attack petered out.

The second counter-attack was led by Major C. C. G. Ross who gathered as many men from the 14th Sikhs as possible and ran with Lieutenant A. D. C. Inglis to where Lieutenant H. R. Young lay, but then they too were pinned down. Finally a third much larger counter attack was launched by Lieutenant Colonel Wilde with the 101st, supported by a company of 5th Gurkhas. It was a straightford and successful, disciplined and gallant action.

Under continual pressure holding the various piquets, General Chamberlain decided to re-concentrate his force by reducing the perimiter of the camp and thus reducing the number of piquets.

On the 18th, therefore, all the troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vaughan, consisting of the Hazara Mountain Battery and the 3rd, 5th and 6th Punjab Infantry, were withdrawn to a more central position. The tribesmen, although they were deceived by the timing of this move, were greatly elated and immediately began to shout and gesticulate with joy. More and more standards came to the area and before long a spontaneous attack broke upon the new British position.

Major Ross with 130 of his 14th Sikhs were holding the outer line of piquets and were immediately put under pressure. The 14th were no doubt smarting under the allegations that they had been “unsteady” on the Crag Piquet five days before, for this time they behaved with great gallantry. Heavily outnumbered they at first gave ground, but then fought their way back. Lieutenant W. F. Mosley and his men having run out of ammunition, they leapt over the breastworks armed only with sword and bayonet and charged. Mosley was killed. In the same fight Lieutenant Inglis was severely wounded. The British losses on the 18th amounted to four officers killed and one wounded in what were the heaviest casualties suffered in a single action on the Crag Piquet.

Lieutenant Inglis was favourably mentioned in the despatch from Brigadier-General Sir N. B. Chamberlain, K.C.B., Commanding Eusufzye Field Force, dated Camp Crest of Umbeyla Pass, the 14th November 1863. Sold with copy Cadet papers and other research.