Beschreibung:

The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals The important family group to Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. W. Curtis, C.B., Indian Army, and his wife Mary Grace who was one of the four ladies present at the battle of Maharajpoor and who received a special Gold Star from Lord Ellenborough (a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, makers mark IE, with original wide swivel-ring suspension, ribbon buckle and suspension brooch (b) Ghuznee 1839, unnamed and fitted with contemporary replacement bar suspension (c) Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Captain J. G. W. Curtis, 37th Regt. Native Infantry) fitted with contemporary silver bar suspension (d) Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Major J: G: W: Curtis, 37th Regt. N:I:) (e) Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Captn. & Bt. Lt. Col. J. G. W. Curtis, D.A.C.G. Bengal Army) (f) The Maharajpore Gold Star presented by Lord Ellenborough to Mrs Grace Curtis, six pointed solid gold fluted star, with appilqué silver star of six points each set with three small diamonds, the gold centre finely enamelled with an Indian elephant with inscription around 'Maharajpore. 29 Dec: 1843', the reverse centre of the star glazed and containing a small lock of hair, fitted with small integral ring for suspension and contained in a contemporary Hunt & Roskell Ltd fitted case, minor enamel chips to the wreaths of the C.B. as usual, a few edge bruises to the medals, otherwise generally good very fine £8000-10000 Footnote James Gray William Curtis was the son of Joseph Curtis of Cross Avenue, Booterstown, Co. Dublin, and was born on 10 January 1809. He was nominated a Cadet for the Bengal Infantry by John Muspratt, Esq., on the recommendation of a relation, William Curtis Esq. He arrived in India on 28 October 1827 and was appointed Ensign on 17 June 1828. Posted to the the 61st Native Infantry he was transferred to the 36th N.I. on 2 May 1828, and to the 37th N.I. two months later. Affairs in Chancery demanded his presence in England soon after, and he was granted furlough commencing on 17 January 1829. On 19 January 1831 he married, at Dublin, Mary Grace the youngest daughter of John Shaw of Bohomer, Co. Dublin, and returned to India with his bride in October of that year. Promoted Lieutenant in February 1833, Curtis rejoined his regiment in June and was subsequently appointed Interpreter and Quartermaster. In 1838 he was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Army of the Indus, and served with the Commissariat Department during the invasion of Afghanistan. On 23 July he was present at the capture of Ghuznee, and subsequently shared in the Ghuznee Prize. Advanced to the rank of Captain in January 1842, he next took part in the Gwalior Campaign, serving as Sub-Assistant Commissary-General. Accompanied by Mrs Curtis (qv), he crossed the border into the Mahratta state of Gwalior with Sir Hugh Gough’s army of 12,000 men and forty guns in December 1843. At the defeat of the Mahrattas in the battle of Maharajpoor on the 29th, Curtis, Captain Shakespear and Captain Fletcher Hayes (Ritchie 1-79) acted as Aides-de-Camp and elicited the ‘best thanks’ of the Commander-in-Chief (London Gazette 8 March 1844). Promoted Brevet Major on 30 April 1844, for services at Maharajpoor, he served under Lord Gough in the Sutlej Campaign and was present at the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon. For services in the latter action he was again mentioned in despatches by Gough: ‘Lt.Col. Parsons, Deputy Commissary General has evinced the most successful perseverance in his endeavours to supply the army. He has been ably aided at H.Q. by Major J. Thompson C.B. and Major Curtis sub assistant Commissary General, all three officers were most active in conveying my orders in the Battle of Sobraon in the face of every danger’ (London Gazette 1 April 1846). Curtis was made Brevet Lieutenant