*An Officer’s Indian Mutiny and Second Afghan War Pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Bruce Chichester, 81st Foot, comprising: Indian Mutiny, 1857-58, no clasp (Major Robt, B. Chichester H Ms 81st Regt); Afghanistan, 1878-80, single clasp, Ali Musjid (Lt Col. R. B. Chichester. 81st Foot.); Pair loose, tiny edge nicks and grazes to first, pair otherwise nearly extremely fine. Major-General Robert Bruce Chichester (1826-1902) was born on 1 January 1826 at St. Pancras, London, the son of Robert Bruce Chichester, a Barrister, and Mary E. Chichester (née Bloxome). He received his first commission with the 81st Foot on 20 October 1849, and saw service in the Indian Mutiny as a Major. The ‘History of the Family of Chichester’ by Alexander Chichester, states ‘that he was present when the 81st, under Colonel Renny, disarmed at Mean Meer one regiment of Native Infantry .’ The 81st also took the Lahore Fort and secured Amritsar and other forts. He continued to serve with the 81st in the Second Afghan War, at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, during the capture of the hill fort of Ali Musjid, however the 81st suffered heavily from disease and were and were ordered back to India in January 1881. Chichester was appointed as a member of the Order of the Bath (third class) in the London Gazette of 21 November 1879. He is believed to have retired at the rank of Major-General to an estate in Dorset. He died on 8 December 1902 and was buried at Wimborne, Dorset. A stereodaguerrotype portrait of the recipient is known to have been sold in a ‘Cowan’s Auctions’ sale of American History on 12 June 2015, showing him wearing full officer’s uniform.
Estimate: £600-£800