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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 31

Pair: Lieutenant-Colonel G. Biddulph, Irregular Cavalry, late 45th Native Infantry, who was killed in action at Lucknow on 16 November 1857

Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee, 1 clasp, Ferozeshuhur (Bt. Capt. G. Biddulph 45th Regt. N:I:); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Capt. G. Biddulph. 3rd Irregular Cavy.), both with attractive silver riband and top buckles, good very fine (2)

George Biddulph was born in 1811 and was educated at Rugby, the son of Rev. John and Sophia Biddulph of Frankton, Warwickshire. An entry on the Memorials & Monuments in Portsmouth website gives more detail:

'...served during the campaign on the Sutlej and with the Army of the Punjaub; was present in 1848 at Chillian Wallah, Goojerat, Sadoolapore and passage of the Chenab. At the siege of Lucknow, November 18th 1857, he had to take the command of a Division, when Brigadier Russell was wounded, and as he was explaining plans, and organising a Column to storm the hospital, a bullet, after passing through another officers hat, struck him dead, passing through his brain.'

Biddulph was 46 years of age at the time he fell and is commemorated with three stained glass windows in his father's church and on the Old Rugbeians Memorial at the Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,200

Starting price
£800