Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Persia campaign medal to Captain R. F. Wren, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross in recognition of his gallantry during the famous charge at the battle of Khushab

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (Captn. R F Wren 3rd Bombay Lt. Cav), with silver Phillips, 23 Cockspur St.’ top riband buckle, this with gold retaining bar, good very fine £2000-2400

Robert Fellowes Wren was the son of Thomas Wren, D.L., J.P., of Lenwood, Northam, Devon, and brother of Lieutenant F. S. M. Wren, 2nd Bengal Light Cavalry (who was massacred near Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny, his medal appearing at DNW as part of the Ritchie Collection in September 2004).

Wren was nominated for a Cadetship in the Bombay Light Cavalry by Elliot Macqghten on the recommendation of his father, a former Major in the Madras service. He was examined and passed for entry 30 December 1842, and posted as Cornet to the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry the following year. He advanced to Lieutenant in November 1846, and served as a Captain with the Regiment as part of the Persian Expeditionary Forces in 1856-57. Wren was present at the assault and capture of Reshire, the surrender of Bushire, at Borazjoon and the action of Khushab.

In early December, the 7,000 strong expeditionary force arrived in the Persian Gulf and successfully effected a landing near Bushire, which was taken after a naval bombardment. Wren, meanwhile, took part with the land forces in the assault and capture of the old Dutch fort at Reshire a few miles to the south. Six weeks later Major-General James Outram arrived with reinforcements and took over command from General Stalker. An advance was then made inland to Borazjoon from which the Persians immediately withdrew, leaving their camp to fall into the hands of the expeditionary force. It was now generally believed that the Persians were retreating through the mountains and Outram decided to retire to the coast.

On the night of 7-8 February, however, the Persians attacked the rearguard, causing considerable confusion. But at length, the British force was organized into line, with the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry posted on the right flank with the Poona Irregular Horse. The light of dawn revealed some 6,000 Persian troops stretched out in a long line, with their right resting on the walled village of Khushab. ‘The 3rd Cavalry,’ Captain Ross Moore afterwards reported, ‘were formed up in close column of squadrons ... facing the direction of the enemy. The Poona Horse also in close column were on our right, the order being that each regiment should have an attacking and supporting squadron; as my squadron was in front, Captain Forbes, commanding the Regiment, accompanied it and it was entirely under his orders that the squadron acted ... Brigadier Tapp [of the Poona Irregular Horse] went off to the right at a hard gallop, I heard no previous orders given by Brigadier Tapp for this advance, but Captain Forbes immediately advanced and the squadron was soon employed in cutting up the Persian skirmishers who had advanced close enough to annoy the line of infantry ... After being thus employed for a few minutes we perceived to our left what appeared to be in the grey of morning ... a regiment of the Shah’s guard [in fact the 500-strong 1st Kushkai Regiment of Fars, one of the best regular units in the Persian army] ... They halted on the rise of a small hill and fired volleys at us; when we got close they formed a solid square with kneeling ranks and awaited us most steadily.’

Behind Captain Forbes and the Adjutant Arthur Moore, Ross Moore advanced with the squadron totalling 100 men as it gathered pace on the commands “Trot,” “Gallop,” “Charge!” Riding shoulder to shoulder with Lieutenant Malcolmson and Lieutenant Spens, Ross Moore dug in his spurs and steered his horse straight through the square. Emerging on the far side with Captains Forbes and Wren and such men as they had been able to keep together, they fell on the Persian artillery two hundred yards in the rear. Here Moore killed three drivers of a brass 9-pounder gun, which was taken and kept possession of under a heavy fire from the Persian infantry who were scattered all about. At this point Moore’s horse died, having being shot in three places. One musket ball had entered the front of the horse’s neck and exited from his withers, without initially impeding its progress. Forbes was shot through the thigh, and Wren’s horse was wounded.

Standing six feet and seven inches tall and weighing in at eighteen stone, Captain Ross Moore immediately set about cutting his way clear on foot, a feat which he accomplished unscathed. By this time the Sowars were crashing back through the square for a second time, putting what remained of the Fars to flight. Meanwhile, at the advance of the British infantry, the bulk of the Persians lost their nerve and throwing away their arms, equipment, and, in some cases, even their clothes, fled leaving seven hundred of their number dead on the field.

The 3rd Light Cavalry’s losses for the day totalled one Sowar killed, Captain Forbes and fourteen Sowars wounded. Thus concluded the action which the legendary leader of Indian cavalry, John Jacob, of the Scinde Horse, declared ‘the best Cavalry performance of modern times’.

For his part in the affair at Khushab, Wren was recommended for the Victoria Cross by Outram who wrote: ‘After the fullest inquiry, I am myself quite satisfied that the undermentioned officers and men of the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry are well deserving of the high distinction of the Victoria Cross for their conduct at Khooshab, on 8th February, 1857, for which I beg earnestly to recommend them. The order of merit in my opinion is as I have placed their names: - Captain Forbes, Lieutenant and Adjutant Moore, Captain Moore, Lieutenant Malcolmson, Captain Wren, Lieutenant Spens, Cornet Combe [qv], Cornet Hill, Jemadar Runjeet Sing, Trooper Lall Khan.’

Of the above only Malcolmson and Ross Moore’s brother, Arthur, received the Victoria Cross. Captain Wren retired from service in 1863, and resided in the Vicarage, Abbotsham, in later life. He died in February 1890, and was buried in Northam Cemetery, Devon.