ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA: 11 SEPTEMBER

The career of General E. F. Waters, of the Bengal Army, illustrates the tactical challenges for leaders and privations suffered by troops in the early days of the 19th century in the Burmese War.

The successive triumphs of this officer, who as a Major in the second campaign of the Burmese War led daring raids into enemy territory under the most challenging conditions, demonstrate his fitness for future promotion to General.

Now his unique group of medals come to auction in this sale, comprising his Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge and 5-clasp Army of India medal – as an Ensign during the 1803 conflict, Waters was one of only five European recipients of the clasp ‘Defence of Delhi’.

However, it was in the war declared against the Burmese empire in 1824, that the by then Major Waters was to distinguish himself.

In the second campaign of the war, Major Waters was detached, with the disposable part of his battalion, from the main force, and for his exertions and services on this occasion, he received the thanks of the highest military authorities.

Major Waters faced the dual task of securing the upper region of the Brahmaputra river and the command of the mountain passes while blockading the enemy in its stockade at Naogong. Leading a force comprising a brigade of gunboats and around 250 men of the Dinagepoor battalion, he set out from Gowahutty on 19 October to surprise and dislodge the enemy on the line of the river Kullung, and of occupying the position of Raha Chokey. On the second day the division arrived at the mouth of the Kullung, at its confluence with the Sonage and the Brahmaputra, about 15 miles from Gowahutty, later overtaking the advanced party, under Lieutenant Jones, of the 46th regiment, with a command of about 60 men.

From there, progress was slow wing to the rapidity of the opposing current in the peculiarly winding and tortuous channel, and the overgrown and impervious banks. A week after they set out, the division reached the village of Jaghee, now nearly depopulated.

Major Waters learned that an enemy party was stationed at a village inland, called Hautgong, or Sautgong, where they were committing plunder and ravage upon the surrounding district. He set off upriver once more, reaching the road to Hautgong, which was about eight or nine miles away. Further intelligence on the strength and position of the enemy's party persuaded Waters to disembark at midnight with 100 men and march for about four miles to reach the village of More Kullung, crossing the water there in rafts. Throughout, the march was hindered by heavy and uninterrupted rain.

They made headway for ten miles – about double the anticipated distance – without too much difficulty, but fatigue set in with the increasingly challenging terrain, the last eight miles being through rice-fields, almost entirely knee, and sometimes waist, deep in water.

Although beset by heavy rain and mist, the detachment found the harsh weather ideal cover for a surprise attack when they arrived at the enemy's position around 8 o’clock. While many Burmese fell and some women and plunder were captured, many more escaped into the thick surrounding jungle.

Having released the women to their families, the detachment faced further exhaustion after being guided the wrong way back to the fleet, traveling at least 35 miles in the process.

The division then continued upriver on the Kullung reaching calmer waters. Following the successful attack on Hautgong, Major Waters knew he had lost the element of surprise for the next assault, on Raha Chokey. However, on arrival, he found the enemy turned towards the line of the great river and the forces of Major Cooper. This restored his advantage and he pushed forwards with 200 men in the gun and light boats, landing a little below Raha Chokey. From there he led his men, unobserved, to the enemy’s outpost by early day-break.

After a brief reconnoitre, Waters divided his party into two, and immediately attacked the position by separate entrances. The tactic succeeded with a loss of at least a third of the enemy and the capture of their arms and baggage.

Later that day, Waters prepared to surprise a detachment of the enemy on its return from inspecting the damage he had left behind at Hautgong. Ambushing them about two miles out from Raha Chokey, his troops again slaughtered them in great numbers. The survivors fled to the enemy stronghold at Noagong, where the main body of the Burmese army – about 1,500 men – was headquartered.

Next day Waters learnt that the enemy force had quit the stockade and set off along the road to Roha, possibly in flight. Leaving the guns and fleet protected, he set off with his own force in pursuit, but was too late to catch up with them and instead took possession of the stockade.

Waters was later involved in other notable exploits, including the attack of the stockades and fortified posts around the capital of Upper Assam (Rungpore), in which he led the expulsion of the enemy from all their strongholds. This resulted in the capture of 400 guns. The thanks of government were individually expressed to Major Waters, and to all commanders of corps, for their services.

Born in 1784 and entering the Bengal Army in 1799, Edmund Frederick Waters was a career officer, who was posted as Colonel to the 27th Native Infantry in May 1836 and, eventually, General on 17 September 1861. He died at Wyvenhoe rectory, Essex, on 2 May 1866.

His Army of India medal includes clasps for Allighur, Battle of Delhi, Defence of Delhi, Nepaul, and Ava. The estimate for the group is £15,000-20,000.