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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 57

'The hills were extremely precipitous and difficult to ascend; but two companies, using hands and feet with the utmost determination, and at times mounting one another's shoulders, succeeded, under a heavy fire from the enemy and undeterred by rolling masses of rock, in scaling and clearing them. The gallant conduct displayed during the action by … Lieutenant Pears was brought to the favourable notice of the Major-General in despatches.'

A glimpse of the The 1st Punjab Infantry's daring night attack on Baghao in March 1879; Shadbolt's The Afghan Campaign of 1878-80, refers.

The Second Afghan War Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. Pears, 1st Punjab Infantry: gallant service in the heights around Baghao aside, his future career as a Political Officer was much imbued with the daring and intrigue of the 'Great Game', in which capacity he once acted as Maharajah Regent of the State of Kishangarh

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lt. T. C. Pears. 1st Punj: Inf:), lightly pitted, very fine

Thomas Caldwell Pears was born in June 1851, the son of Major-General Sir Thomas Pears, K.C.B., who served as Commanding Engineer in the First Opium War.

Afghanistan 1878-80: opening shots

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Punjab Infantry in May 1872, young Thomas first witnessed active service in the Second Afghan War and, as cited above, greatly distinguished himself in the storming of the heights at Baghao on 24 March 1879. On that occasion, a force of Zhoband Bori Pathans, some 3,000 strong, advanced on the Thal-Chotali Frontier Force, of which the Punjabis formed No. 1 Column under Major Keen. His men had already been harried by about 200 tribesmen in 'a difficult pass' but nonetheless acquitted themselves well in the action at Baghao on the 24th, when they advanced on the heights in skirmishing order in front of our artillery. In addition to Pears, three of his fellow officers were likewise mentioned in despatches.

Pears subsequently served in the Thal-Chotali Frontier Force as a Political Assistant, in which capacity he served under Sir Leppel Griffin, K.C.S.I., who led a special mission to Kabul in February 1880, a mission charged with securing the appointment of Amir Abdul Rahman Khan to the throne.

Great Game - Politico - Maharajah Regent of Kishangarh State

Following his part in the Second Afghan War, Pears embarked upon a wide and varied career as a Political Officer. Initially appointed Assistant Commissioner at Merwara, he moved to boundary duties between Mewar and Tonk and served as a Settlement Officer in the 1880s.

In March 1893, he was appointed Political Officer at Alwar and he served in a similar capacity at Johdpur in 1898-99. In May of the latter year he became Resident of Gwalior, and he occupied the same post in Nepal from June 1901 and in Jaipur from April 1903.

Pears's final appointment was as Maharajah Regent of Kishangarh State 1903-05. Located in Rajasthan, the state had been founded by Johdpur Price Kishan Singh in 1609, and had just three British Regent leaders in its history.

Parting shots

Pears was placed on the Retired List as a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1906 but showed admirable keenness to get to back in harness on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914: he joined the R.N.V.R. as an Able Seaman, his previous occupation being listed as 'Indian Army'.

No doubt having pestered some old contacts, he subsequently gained a special appointment back in the Indian Army in mid-December 1914, his service record noting on the same occasion: 'joined fighting unit'.

He died in 1921, aged 70.

For his father's China 1842 Medal, please see Lot 23.


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Sold for
£580