Orders, Decorations and Medals

Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Lt. Col. C. L. Woodruffe, 45th Beng. N.I.), with silver riband buckle, one or two edge bruises and light contact marks, otherwise good very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bahadur Collection of Medals to Sikh Regiments.

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Charles Lorraine Woodruffe was born in Maida Vale, London in March 1841, the son of a barrister, and was educated in Dresden, Germany and at Mount Pleasant School, Sunbury, Middlesex. Graduating from the East India Military College in May 1858, he was gazetted as an Ensign in the the 68th Bengal Native Infantry, but was quickly promoted to Lieutenant in October of the same year, on his arrival in India. Steady advancement followed, and by the outbreak of the Second Afghan War he was serving as a Major in the 45th Bengal Native Infantry (Rattray’s Sikhs), in which regiment he served with distinction in the engagement at Futtehabad on 2 April 1879, where he commanded three companies of the 45th (250 men). He was also present at the second action at Charasiab and at the capture of Ali Musjid, and was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 7 November 1879 refers). Woodruffe, who later joined the Bengal Staff Corps and was advanced to Major-General in October 1886, died in March 1898.