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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 39

The outstanding Second Afghan War Medal to Major F. C. N. Goldney, Bengal Staff Corps, who in 1857, aged eight, escaped from mutineers at Fyzabad with his mother; his father lost his life attempting to disarm the rebels

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lt. F. C. N. Goldney. Ben: S.C.), good very fine

Frederick Charles Napier Goldney was born in India on 9 September 1849, the second son of Colonel Philip Goldney of the Bengal Army. Philip Goldney, the son of a London goldsmith, held important civil and military posts over a long career in India. Commissioned into the 29th Bengal Native Infantry, he fought against the Bhils in 1824 and was present at the conquest of Sind. In 1853 he became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd Bengal (European) Light Infantry, only formed that year. Trained at Chinsura on the River Hooghly, this regiment was to earn a formidable reputation in the forthcoming struggle.

Lieutenant-Colonel Goldney led an infantry brigade into Oudh (now Awadh) when the province was annexed in 1854. Known as 'the nursery of sepoys' for the number of recruits it supplied to the Bengal Army, this fertile region was an independent kingdom until its Nawab was forced into exile by the Company. Promoted in 1857, Colonel Goldney became civil commissioner at Fyzabad, 80 miles east of Lucknow on the River Sarayu. He occupied a bungalow there with his wife, Mary Louisa (the daughter of Colonel John Holbrow), and his sons Thomas and Frederick, then aged ten and eight.

Fyzabad was garrisoned by the 22nd Bengal Native Infantry and the 6th Oudh Irregular Infantry. Following mutinies by native units throughout Oudh in previous weeks, both regiments mutinied on 8 June 1857. The European officers and their families presented easy targets for the mutineers, who swept through the cantonment with knives and torches. Forewarned by loyal Indian servants, Mrs Goldney and the boys escaped in a carriage, Frederick leaving his beloved rocking horse to its fate. Mrs Goldney's diary states that they were among 49 Europeans - mostly women and children - to flee from Fyzabad.

Colonel Goldney was less fortunate. Though a native had told him of the impending mutiny, he felt his presence was still needed at Fyzabad. He tried to parley with the mutineers. When their leader requested a meeting, he shrugged off warnings of a possible trap and walked alone into the rebel camp. When the talks failed, he and other soldiers (including a loyal sepoy) made a fighting withdrawal to the river, escaping downstream in three boats. Having got as far Begumjee, one of the boats hit a sandbank. Farrier Sergeant Busher, of No. 13 Light Field Battery, described the scene:

'Some boats with mutineers pushed off from the opposite shore and came towards us. Colonel Goldney observing this directed that those who could run should, without any further loss of time, endeavour to escape, remarking that there was not even the shadow of a chance of our meeting with mercy at their hands, and at the same time added that he was too old himself to run.'

The mutineers recognised Colonel Goldney; his role as civil commissioner made him a special target. He was taken and killed by mutineers from the 17th Bengal Native Infantry. By sacrificing himself, he bought time for Busher and others to escape.

With no news of her husband, Mrs Goldney's first thought was to make for Allahabad, but she abandoned this plan on hearing that all Europeans there had been slaughtered. Along with the other families, she continued southwards, constantly pursued by bands of mutineers. Forced to change horses at Pratapgarh, she later recalled:

'I made a sign to my coachman, and away we went. Never, never shall I forget that gallop through Pratapgarh. The moment the crowd saw I was off, they rushed after the carriage; and such a wild shout they raised, and ran; one rebel threw his spear with good aim; it touched the edge of the carriage behind, and fell; had it been aimed a barley-corn higher, one of the three children would have received it in the chest.'

On 15 June, the party made contact with Rajah Madho Singh. Though sympathetic to the rebel cause, this Rajah took mercy on the European women and children and sheltered them in his fort at Amethi. (In recognition of this service, the British allowed him to keep his title of Rajah following the Mutiny.) By 23 June, Allahabad had been recaptured and the Goldney family were able to board a steamer, which took them down the Ganges to Calcutta and safety.

During a stop at Dinapoor, Captains Orr and Reid came aboard. Both these men had escaped from Fyzabad with Colonel Goldney, and bore witness to his selfless courage. Though the death of his father was a bitter blow, such bravery must have left an enduring mark on young Frederick.

Proud scion

Peace officially returned to India in July 1859. The Goldneys took up residence at Kurnaul, near Calcutta. Frederick Goldney attended Bishop Cotton School, Simla, before finishing his education at Cheltenham College. In 1868 his mother wrote to Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (Field Marshal Commanding in Chief), begging to purchase a commission for him. Several months elapsed, until a referee, P. P. Gordon, described to Horse Guards the tragic circumstances of Colonel Goldney's murder. This letter had the desired effect, and on passing the officer's examination in India, Goldney became an Ensign in the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot on 10 November 1869.

Stationed at Dum Dum, this regiment had just returned from the Abyssinian campaign. In 1870 it moved to Fyzabad, the city which loomed so large in Goldney's youth. Despite a severe outbreak of cholera, the 26th Foot enjoyed sporting trips and competitions, and was ranked the best regiment in India for rifle-shooting. Goldney was gazetted a Lieutenant in 1871, and on 21 July 1874 he was appointed as a probationer to the Bengal Staff Corps, echoing his father's administrative flair. He served in this role during the 1874-75 Duffla Expedition, so would have caught the eye of Colonel F. S. Roberts V.C., Quartermaster-General of the British force in that campaign.

The Duffla tribe still inhabit the hills to the east of Assam, and in 1872 they raided a colony of their own tribesmen, who had settled in British territory. They took 44 captives into the hills. The British expedition aimed to release these prisoners and force the Duffla into submission. It comprised 1,000 troops, drawn entirely from Native Infantry Regiments with two mountain guns and a detachment of sappers, and was commanded by Brigadier-General W. Stafford. The force arrived at the River Dikrung on 18 November 1874, and the sappers threw a pontoon bridge across it. Little resistance was faced, though a hill 7,695 feet above sea level had to be scaled. On reaching the village of Oompoong, the British force captured the Duffla chieftain Boya Gam and took his son hostage. Though the Duffla expedition's aims were achieved without fighting, the work of the Staff Corps was relentless due to the logistical difficulties encountered. Supplies had to be dragged up mountain paths, and the ceaseless winter rains put nearly 200 men out of action.

Lieutenant Goldney served on the Bengal Staff Corps during the Second Afghan War (Medal without clasp), which ended with the final defeat of Ayub Khan outside Kandahar in September 1880. His efforts were rewarded with a promotion to Captain in 1881. His retirement, at the rank of Major, was announced in the London Gazette on 28 January 1890. In 1877 he had married Edith Caroline, fourth daughter of the surgeon Henry Wilkins. He fathered two daughters, Alice and Marjorie, and lived with his family at 71 Windsor Road, Ealing. His death at the age of 91 was reported in The Times on 15 March 1941.

Sold with London Gazette entries, copied research, and copies of the letters and diary mentioned herein.



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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£450