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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 308

(x) The historically important Army of India and first Afghan War pair awarded to Lieutenant-General A. F. Richmond, C.B.; chosen to command the rearguard of Sir George Pollock's army for the march on Cabul in 1842, Richmond brought his troops safely through the notorious Jugdulluck and Hufikotul Passes, making several brave stands against superior numbers of Afghan cavalry

On reaching Cabul, Pollock assigned Richmond the unnerving task of destroying the city's Grand Mosque and Bazaar, which he achieved with minimal bloodshed. During the march back to India he led audacious counter-attacks against pursuing Afghans, sword in hand

As a young Lieutenant, Richmond served with the 1st Light Battalion during the Nepaul War, and was wounded during the assault on Kalunga

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Nepaul, Bhurtpoor (Captn. A. F. Richmond, 33rd N. I.); Cabul 1842, unnamed as issued, original steel clip and bar suspension, the first with minor edge bruise at 3 o'clock and slightly slack suspension, otherwise good very fine and better (2)

Archibald Fullerton Richmond was born at Edinburgh in December 1789. Nominated a Cadet for the East India Company's Bengal Infantry in 1808, he reached Calcutta aboard the Indiaman Devonshire on 27 October 1809. He attended Barrasut Cadet College, and was awarded the Sword of Honour on graduating. On 10 April 1810 he was commissioned an Ensign with the 16th Bengal Native Infantry.

Later that year, the 16th were ordered to Bundeelkund in central India. The Mahrattas ceded this region to the British under the 1802 Treaty of Bassein, which granted sanads (leases) to local rulers in exchange for written oaths of allegiance. The fortress of Kalinjar resisted Company authority; Richmond was wounded in the assault which captured Kalinjar on 2 February 1811.

Nepaul War

By 1814, the East India Company was facing a cash-flow crisis. Its staple export to Britain, Indian cotton, was becoming less profitable as the textile mills of the Industrial Revolution slashed demand. The Governor-General of India, the Marquis of Hastings, viewed Kashmir wool as a potential substitute. Coveted by London society for its luxurious qualities, this wool could only be grown in Tibet, as the sheep that produced it was unique to the region. Between India and Tibet lay the mountainous Kathmandu valley, inhabited by fierce Ghoorkhas. Company merchants required access through the Ghoorkha Kingdom of Nepaul in order to acquire Kashmir wool. Proud and independent, the Ghoorkhas refused.

Richmond served during the Nepaul War as Adjutant of the 1st Light Battalion, part of General Rollo Gillespie's Division at Meerut. Gillespie's 3,500-strong column advanced towards Dehra Dun in western Nepaul, hoping to isolate a force of 600 Ghoorkhas under Bulbudder Singh and compel Bulbudder to negotiate. Bulbudder, realising that he could not hold the town, withdrew to the hill-fort of Kalunga, overlooking Nalapani. When Gillespie approached the fort on 27 October, he ordered an immediate assault. The British 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment got within thirty yards of the walls when a Ghoorkha marksman shot Gillespie through the heart. The attack wavered. As the 53rd retired, the 1st Light Battalion covered their withdrawal. Despite heavy fire, Richmond's Company managed to drag away two Horse Artillery guns and prevent their capture. The 1st Light Battalion had one officer killed and three wounded that day.

Major Ludlow now assumed command. For over a month, British artillery pulverized Kalunga fort, reducing its garrison to 70 effectives. The fort's water supply was sealed off. James Baillie Fraser, an officer on Gillespie's staff, was stunned by the bravery of the defenders (Fraser 1820, 29):

'The determined resolution of the small party which held this small post for more than a month, against so comparatively large a force, must surely wring admiration from every voice… the dismal spectacle of their slaughtered comrades, the sufferings of their women and children thus immured with themselves, and the hopelessness of relief, which destroyed any other motive for their obstinate defence than that resulting from a high sense of duty, supported by unsubdued courage. This, and a generous spirit of courtesy towards their enemy, certainly marked the character of the garrison of Kalunga… Whatever the nature of the Ghoorkhas in other quarters, there was no cruelty to wounded or to prisoners; no poisoned arrows were used; no wells or waters were poisoned; no rancorous spirit of revenge seemed to animate them: they fought us in fair conflict, like men; and, in intervals of actual combat, showed us a liberal courtesy worthy of a more enlightened people.'

While the siege raged, Richmond commanded a detachment of Light Infantry which dislodged the Ghoorkhas from Nycheeow, a fortified village nearby. Rejoining Ludlow's force, he was present at the storming of Kalunga on 30 November. Bulbudder and his followers fled into the hills, Major Ludlow ordering a vigorous pursuit. Richmond fought at Peacock Hill on 2 December, when the 1st Light Battalion defeated the enemy with the loss of three officers killed and two wounded. Richmond was himself wounded in this action while leading an attack, later receiving the thanks of the Marquis of Hastings in General Orders (London Gazette 19 August 1815). A fortnight later he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Richmond was again wounded in early 1815, during the British assault on Nalagurgh in Himachal Pradesh (see Gould 1974, 97). The Ghoorkhas had occupied this Rajput town, and were expelled with great loss. On 2 December 1815, a peace was concluded between the Ghoorkha king, Girvan Shah, and the East India Company. Known as the Sugauli Treaty, it ceded Nepaul's western regions to the British, finally giving Company merchants access to Kashmir wool. Bulbudder escaped to Lahore, becoming military adviser to Ranjit Singh.

Bhurtpoor

Richmond served as Adjutant of the 33rd Bengal Native Infantry from 28 February 1817, and was present at the reduction of Humeeghur by Brigadier Lumley in October 1823. He was then given temporary command of the 33rd Native Infantry, which formed part of Lord Combermere's army at the siege of Bhurtpoor. Richmond was wounded on 18 January 1826, during the storming of that vast fortress.

Over the ensuing years he held a variety of appointments, including that of Commandant of the Calcutta Native Militia. Returning to England on furlough in 1835, due to ill health, Richmond returned to India in early 1839 and assumed command of his old regiment. The 33rd Native Infantry were then employed in the Siege of Jhansi in Bundeelkund, this region still resisting the Company's grasp. Richmond was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 January 1840. In late 1841, the regiment marched from Meerut to Ferozepoor, which station Richmond commanded until 21 February 1842.

Afghanistan - Rearguard Commander

Richmond commanded the 33rd Native Infantry throughout the 1st Afghan War of 1842. By forced marches, Richmond brought his regiment to Peshawar where it joined Major-General Sir George Pollock's 'vengeful army', which sought to restore British pride after the calamitous Retreat from Cabul in January. Part of Monteath's 4th Brigade, the 33rd advanced up the Shinwaree Valley during July 1842, capturing thirty-five Afghan forts. In the advance on Cabul, Richmond commanded the rearguard from Gandamak to Soorukab. He then commanded the advance guard through the Jugdulluck Pass, successfully dislodging the enemy from a stockade and gaining the heights on both flanks. He calmly repelled every Afghan counter-attack.

On 12 September, Pollock concentrated his forces in the Tazeen Valley. Richmond was again tasked with commanding the rearguard as the army threaded through the narrow Hufikotul Pass. Afghan cavalry under Akhub Khan began harrying Richmond's men. Rather than fight a defensive action, Richmond charged this cavalry force and defeated it, taking many useful prisoners. When Pollock's army entered Kabul about a week later, Richmond was assigned the task of destroying the city's Grand Mosque and Bazaar. Since local resistance was expected, five regiments were put under his command, but Richmond achieved his task without a drop of blood being spilt.

Pollock's army then returned to India, its mission accomplished. As the rearguard left Cabul it was surrounded by Afghan tribesmen; Richmond took the 33rd and 60th Regiments of Native Infantry back and saved the rearguard. He boldly led the relief, sword in hand. He then brought the rearguard through the Jugdulluck and Lundee Khana Passes. For these services, Richmond received numerous mentions in the despatches of Sir George Pollock and Brigadier Monteath (see London Gazette 17 March 1843 and 11 April 1843). In December 1842 he was made a Companion of the Bath (London Gazette, 24 December 1842).

Richmond's experience in Afghanistan made him the perfect candidate for the role of Governor-General's Agent on the North-West Frontier, which he held from June 1843. He then became Resident to the Court of Oudh at Lucknow between September 1844 and January 1849. Gravely ill, he then went to England on sick leave and never returned to India. He nevertheless held senior military appointments in Britain. He was promoted to Colonel in March 1850, Major-General in November 1854, and finally to Lieutenant-General in October 1864.

Richmond married Mary Anne Frances, daughter of Nathaniel Altham Cumberlege of the Bengal Army, at Barrackpoor on 23 October 1824. They had one son and two daughters, and lived at 64 Beulah Road, Croydon. Richmond died at Sydenham, London on 25 August 1866; sold with a file of research, London Gazette entries and confirmation of medal entitlement.



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