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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 66

Pair: Captain A. P. Samuells, 32nd Punjab Pioneers, who was attached to the 7th Royal Fusiliers throughout the Umbeyla campaign and who died of disease contracted during the Afghanistan campaign

India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Umbeyla, Bhootan (Lieut Attd A P Samuells H.Ms 1st Bn. 7th Regt); Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Capt A. P. Samuells 32nd Ben. L.I.), mounted in a contemporary frame with miniature, 32nd Punjab Pioneers cap badge, and silver framed photograph of the recipient in civilian clothing, good very fine (2)

Alexander Pringle Samuells was born at Muzaffarpur, Tirhut, India, on 8 August 1843, the third son of Edward Alexander Samuells C.B. of the Bengal Civil Service. Educated at Loretto, Musselburgh, and Wimbledon, he arrived in India at the end of December 1860. Ordered to Lucknow in early 1861 he was to serve with the 4th European Regiment, with which corps he remained until it was disbanded in the following November. Samuells was then sent to Meerut on duty with volunteers for the 104th Foot (late 2d European Bengal Fusiliers), and having arrived there in January 1862, he was directed to do duty with that regiment until further orders.

Appointed to do duty with the 1st Punjab Infantry in late November 1863, he joined the Yusafzai Field Force in the Ambela Pass, and was directed to proceed express to Nowshera for further instructions; he had however, already marched towards Yusafzai with the 7th Fusiliers. Accompanying that corps to Ambela, Samuells was to serve with it in the final operations of the campaign, including the actions of Lalu and Ambela on the 15 and 16 December, which brought the war to a conclusion. These final actions were notable for their savage hand-to-hand fighting and high losses on both sides.

Appointed to the 32nd Punjab Pioneers in 1864, Samuells was to serve continuously with them until his death. Present for the Bhutan campaign of 1864-65, he subsequently assisted in the construction of the Ranikhet road and in the Bengal Famine Relief Works of 1874. During that year Captain Samuells also married Georgina Margaret, eldest daughter of the late George Paterson of Castle Huntly, Perthshire. Accompanying the Regiment to Quetta in 1877, Baluchistan, as Wing Commander, he took part in all the military works on which the regiment was engaged, both in the Quetta fortifications and in the Bolan Pass. With the outbreak of the Second Afghan War he served with the regiment throughout the campaign in South Afghanistan. Being appointed second in command for part of that time he was present for the advance over the Khojak Pass, the occupation of Kandahar and the reconnaissance to Girishk on the Khojak Pass. As well as the occupation of Kandahar, the reconnaissance to Girishk on the Halmand and the expedition against the Kakur tribes in the Thal-Chotiali country. On the conclusion of hostilities he was appointed permanently second in command, in succession to Colonel Fellowes, who died on the return march.

Captain Samuells' health had also suffered much during this campaign; and in the hot weather, he became seriously ill with dysentery and fever. Notwithstanding his debilitated state, he accompanied the regiment to the Khyber Pass and Jalalabad Valley on the renewal of hostilities in the autumn of 1879, and remained with it, taking his share in all the trying work which fell to its lot in the second campaign, until July 1880, when his health completely broke down. He was then invalided, but too late, the return through the Pass was more than he was equal to and on arrival at Rawalpindi he died of hospital abscess.

Throughout his career he bore the reputation of an officer possessing sound judgement and great esprit de corps. His loss was deeply felt by all ranks of the 32nd, both British and Native; for in life he had been distinguished for the sympathetic interest he took in all regimental matters and in every individual member of the corps, from his British comrades to the youngest Sepoy. Further he had been specially mentioned for proficiency in Military Law and he had successfully passed the examinations qualifying for service on the Staff.

A memorial was erected over his tomb by the officers of his regiment and the Sepoys of his company.

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£600