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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 2

(x) A Fine and Well Documented 'Hazara 1888' C.B. Group of Six to Colonel H.M. Pratt, 2nd Sikhs, Who Served For Over 30 Years in India, Took Command of the 5th Punjab Infantry During the Second Afghan War, And Was Six Times Mentioned in Despatches
a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion's (C.B.) breast Badge, gold (Hallmarks for London 1887) and enamel, with integral gold riband buckle
b) Indian Mutiny 1857-58, no clasp (Ensign H.M. Pratt, Bengal Infantry.)
c) China 1857-60, two clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Lieut. H.M. Pratt, 23rd. Regt. Punjab Pioneers)
d) Afghanistan 1878-80, four clasps, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul, Kandahar (Maj. H.M. Pratt. 2nd. Sikh Infy.)
e) Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (Major H.M. Pratt 2nd. Sikh Infy.)
f) India General Service 1854-95, one clasp, Hazara 1888 (Colonel H.M. Pratt 2nd. Sikh Infy.), very minor green enamel damage to wreath on C.B., light contact marks throughout, generally good very fine, together with the following related items:
- The recipient's six related miniature awards
- A coloured portrait drawing of the recipient
- The recipient's notebook, containing extracts from his diary, and details of his service career
- A notebook containing entries written in native script 'found in the enemy's camp [at Kandahar] on the 1st September 1880.' (6)

C.B. London Gazette 12.4.1889 Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel Henry Marsh Pratt, Bengal Staff Corps
'In recognition of services during the operations at Hazara.'

Colonel Henry Marsh Pratt, C.B., was born in Harpley, Norfolk, October 1838, the son of the Reverend William Pratt, Rector of Harpley, and educated at Marlborough College and Addiscombe; Commissioned Ensign, December 1856, he sailed for India, arriving in Calcutta on the 13th December, and was posted to the 51st Bengal Native Infantry.

Indian Mutiny
' The 51st Bengal Native Infantry, to which I belonged, mutinied on the 28th August 1857 at Pershawar- my Regiment with the rest of the Hindostani Regiments stationed at Peshawar had been disarmed earlier in the year- orders were issued for every Native Regiment to leave its lines and march to the Brigade Parade Ground and encamp there in front of the cantonment towards Jamrud- when there, each company was marched singly back into its lines and ordered to carry each man his bed and his property out to its new camp. The raw men of the 18th Punjab Infantry, newly raised, superintended the removal of the sepoy's property so as to ensure that no arms or ironbound clubs were taken out of the lines. Everything of the nature of an arm was collected in a heap near a tank in the lines, which were surrounded by trees. This work of clearing out the lines had been going on from early morning to 12:30pm, when the remaining 3 Companies, still in camp, were marched into the lines to finish the work. Most of the 18th Punjab Infantry had piled arms and were resting. Under the shade of the trees round the camp were most of the British Officers- Captain Bartlett, Commanding the 18th Punjab Infantry, his adjutant Lieutenant Roberts, and I, were resting on charpoys when a simultaneous rush was made for the heap of iron clubs and several of the piled muskets, all loaded, were seized. Headed by a Native Officer of the 51st, some picked men rushed at Bartlett, Roberts, and myself. They took us by surprise. A big wrestler rolled with me into the tank of water. My first effort was to strike out and swim to the opposite side of the tank, firing going on all round; on moving I felt a try at my sword. I stopped, found that I touched the bottom when standing up, and, feeling for my sword found that the sepoy had followed me under water and had his hand on the hilt of my sword. After a rough and tumble he saw his friends dispersing and so he left me with my sword and got out of the tank to be bayoneted by one of the 18th Punjab Infantry. On looking round I saw Bartlett with his revolver cocked, standing in the tank bleeding from a wound in the forehead. He fired at a man who was taking a pot shot at me. The British Regiment then came up and as the mutineers were dispersing we got out of the tank. The 51st Native Infantry were shot down if they remained in the lines, and if they were captured and brought in they were shot as deserters, and so the whole of my Regiment was wiped out in two days and none got away.' (Extracts from the recipient's diary refers). So ended Pratt's service with the 51st Bengal Native Infantry.

China
'In February 1860 I volunteered for the Expeditionary Force going to China and found myself posted to the 15th Sikh Pioneers. We started en-route for Pekin via the Taku Forts at the mouth of the Peiho River and we landed from troop barges at Pehtaing, a small town where we were quartered until we marched on the Taku Forts. We had two skirmishes, before the assault; after one Fort had been taken the other 3 were vacated. We then all encamped preparing for our march on Pekin, we had two pitched battles on the way which we won without trouble, 'Changhiawau' and 'Tinigchow', and then encamped outside Pekin where we waited till the Chinese released the prisoners remaining alive and paid the indemnity asked. As the Chinese would not release the prisoners they kept in torture and would not come to terms an order was given to burn the Summer Palace, the property of the Chinese Emperor. This we did- I personally had 200 men and was apportioned a strip to burn some quarter of a mile wide by a mile or so in depth. We had no conveniences for carrying away property, but I got a stove onto a cart which I sold by auction at Hong Kong for £70.' (ibid).

Afghanistan
'On the 31st May 1878 I was posted as Officer Second in Command to the 5th Regiment Punjab Infantry at Kohat, from which station I marched with the Regiment to Kurram with the Kurram Field Force under General Sir F. Roberts and was present at the reconnaissance of the Low Hills under the Peiwar Kotal on the 28th November 1878. On the 2nd December 1878 the Force assaulted and captured the Peiwar Kotal- the 5th Punjab Infantry were first employed in the direct advance under Brigadier General Cobbe and then bearing to the right, left the direct advance and climbed up the face of the Hills through scrub until we effected a junction with General Roberts' storming force that had made a flank march during the night and had captured the positions held by the enemy at daybreak. The Regiment then headed the next forward flanking movement which caused the enemy to vacate their almost impregnable position and in the evening we sighted all the Afghan Garrison moving across the plain beneath us in the direction of Cabul. The Regiment then took part in the advance on Ali Khel and afterwards on the 13th December returned to Kurram, selected to escort the 19 captured guns together with the Sikh wounded and some 20 prisoners.

On the 7th September 1879 the Regiment marched forward as part of the Force ordered to invade Cabul and exact satisfaction for the murder of Cavagnari and his escort. On the 6th October 1879 the Regiment took part in the action at Charasia- I was in command. That evening the Regiment bivouacked on the heights and during the following days took part in the advance on and the occupation of Cabul. From the 14th October to the 4th November the Regiment with a Force under Sir Hugh Gough proceeded to the Sherpur to relieve the troops that had been surrounded and were being attacked by the enemy- the enemy disappeared on our arrival. The Regiment next formed part of a force under Brigadier General T. Baker from the 21st November to the 1st December 1879 to forage and destroy a number of walled villages that had given trouble. On the 13th and 14th December the Regiment moved out and was engaged with the enemy, and was ordered to assault and capture a strong fort. The gate had to be burnt down and then we rushed in and killed the Ghazis who were waiting to receive us. As there was hesitation I had to lead the way in and was obliged to shoot 2 men in front of me. On the 23rd December we were engaged in repulsing the enemy's final attack when the whole hillside, where the enemy had been swarming like bees, was seen to be without a man remaining on them. The city was most desolate when we visited it, the shops having all been looted and destroyed by the enemy.' (ibid). For his gallantry during the capture of the fort, Pratt was Mentioned in General Roberts' Despatch, London Gazette 4.5.1880.

Kabul to Kandahar
'The 2nd Sikh Infantry, of which I was posted Second in Command, arrived back in Sherpur on the 26th July with the Force under the Command of General Sir Donald Stewart. On the disaster of Maiwand, outside Kandahar, becoming known, a force was ordered to be despatched from Kabul under General Roberts to relieve the British Forces that were in Kandahar. The 2nd Sikhs being ordered to join this Force, on the 8th August I marched out with the Regiment and took part in Robert's Kabul to Kandahar March. We reached Kandahar on the 31st August on which day there was a reconnaissance in force and the next day, the 1st September, the 2nd Sikhs was one of the two leading Battalions of the 2nd Brigade and performed distinguished service clearing the tenaciously held gardens and walled enclosures which lay in the line of attack in a manner which is warmly testified to by the General in his Despatch. The casualties of the Regiment were 3 sepoys killed and Major Slater (very severely) and 23 sepoys wounded. 2 Native Officers, 1 N.C.O., and 4 Sepoys were subsequently admitted to the [Indian] Order of Merit for conspicuous gallantry during this action.' (Extracts from the recipient's diary refers).

For his conduct throughout the Second Afghan War, Pratt was Mentioned in Despatches four times and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 'in recognition of his service during the late Afghan Campaign', 2.3.1881.

Hazara 1888
'On the 28th September 1888 I arrived in Abbottabad in command of the 2nd Sikh Infantry. The Regiment having been ordered to join and form part of the Force against the tribes inhabiting the Black Mountains I am appointed Commandant of the 4th Column. On the 5th October we moved up to support the advance of No.3 Column with 200 men of the 2nd Sikhs- I left them and pushed up to the General Officer Commanding Sir John McQueen and found all at the summit of Akhund Baba ka Chera- a tremendous pull up. Saw everyone- 2 British soldiers and 1 sepoy of the 14th Sikhs who had first been wounded by the enemy's scouts firing out of a thicket on the column moving up towards the top of the hill. On the 13th October I left Kalakka as we have been ordered to join General Galbraith's Division at Kunhar on the Indus. On the 15th October I reached Kotkai held by Colonel Hills of the Seaforth Highlanders. Had a three quarters of an hour talk with Colonel Cruickshank whom I have to relieve as he is wounded. Could not pass riding so dismounted and walked into Kunhar where I met General Galbraith and joined their mess. On the 18th October I went over the Indus with 300 Rifles as guard and rest of the column empty handed and carted on men's heads a tremendous lot of India corn with stalks for mules' forage. We set off the following morning for Bakrai along a vile road only suitable for Infantry or unladen animals, and encamped at Bukrai. On the 30th October the Prisoners came in, and the Hassanzais paid fine in full.' (Extracts from the recipient's diary refers).

For his services during the Hazara Campaign, firstly in commanding the 4th Column, and latterly in commanding the Reserve and subsequently the River Columns during the final operations against the Akazais and Hassanzais, Pratt was twice Mentioned in Despatches and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt retired from the Indian Army, October 1893, with a pension 'as a reward for distinguished and meritorious service' of £100 per annum, and was promoted Colonel, December 1894, on completion of 38 years' service. In retirement he travelled through Europe extensively, and died in London, April 1919.

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Sold for
£5,500