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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 92

Scinde 1843, for Meeanee and Hyderabad (Lieut. C.P. Leeson.), engraved in serif capitals, with contemporary silver clip and silver straight bar suspension, nearly very fine

PROVENANCE:
Glendining's, March 1974.

Charles Ponsonby Leeson was born in Dublin in January 1810, third and youngest son of the Hon. John Leeson, a gentleman of Jersey. Educated by Dr. Thompkins at Boulougne he entered the East India Company upon the recommendation of Sir Robert Preston in January 1829. Posted as Ensign to the 7th Bombay Native Infantry in July 1829, he transferred to the 25th Native Infantry in 1834, and was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1837. Leeson was appointed Brigade Major at Poona in December 1838.

Intruigingly his name features as having been declared bankrupt and residing as a prisoner in the gaol of Bombay during June 1840. His debts cleared - or possibly pardoned - Leeson served as a Baggage Master during the Scinde campaign, including the Battle of Meeanee, 17 February 1843 (Medal upon roll under 'Staff').

An Acting Superintendant of Hyderabad Police from 19 February - September 1843, he would later qualify as both a Hindustani and Mahratta Interpreter and serve as Paymaster of Pensioners at Poona.

His military career ended somewhat unhappily, the result of scandal attaching to his conduct in the taking of an Indian concubine, an ex-prostitute whose role in searching the women of the Talpur zenana to prevent jewels from escaping the clutches of the Prize Agents endeared her to none, whereby '...the business of the concubine coming belatedly to the General’s notice, a hint was given to Leeson to resign.' (Sir Charles Napier and Sind, H. T. Lambrick, Oxford, 1952).

Leeson died unmarried in July 1852. His two elder brothers also served in India, Joseph Leeson, the eldest, saw action in the first Afghan War at Cabul and Istalif, and afterwards headed Shah Shuja’s 1st Cavalry Regiment, known locally as Leeson’s Horse. He subsequently served in the first Sikh War as a Captain in the 2nd Irregular Cavalry. The second brother, John Sackville Leeson served with distinction during the second Sikh War as Brigadier-General, commanding Bombay Artillery; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£850