An Important Indian Mutiny and Ashantee Medal Pair awarded to Colonel Henry Charles Geast Dugdale, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who fought with distinction during the Indian Mutiny, and later during the Ashantee Campaign of 1873-74, comprising: Indian Mutiny, 1857-58, single clasp, Lucknow (Lieut H. C. G. Dugdale, 2nd Bn Rifle Bde); Ashantee, 1873-74, single clasp, Coomassie (Capt. H. C. G. Dugdale, 2nd Bn Rifle Bde 1873-4); Pair swing-mounted as worn, lightly toned, a few corrosion spots to rim of first, very fine (2) Captain Henry Charles Geast Dugdale (1837-1911) was born on 30 April 1837 at Shustoke, Warwickshire, the son of William Stratford Dugdale, and Harriet Ella Dugdale (née Portman). Educated at Eton College, he received his first commission as Ensign (without purchase) with the Rifle Brigade on 5 June 1855, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 September 1857.Serving during the Indian Mutiny in late 1857-58, he took part in several actions and regularly appears in ‘The History of the Rifle Brigade’ by Sir William Cope. At Cawnpore, the Rifle Brigade took up a key strategic position at a nearby junction on the Grand Trunk Road leading towards Delhi, where the enemy fell in force upon their position. Despite the heavy pressure which obliged them to retire towards the body of the main British position, the troops fighting under Lieutenants George Curzon and Henry Dugdale kept up a hot fire and eventually ran out of ammunition. As a result, the two officers ‘went back across the open, exposed to the fire of the two (enemy) guns which plied them with grape… However they succeeded in bringing up a camel with a supply’ to maintain their fire. Cope writes that ‘this retreat was covered in a most masterly manner.’ Dugdale also took part in the capture of the city of Lucknow, and fought during the Oude and Trans-Gogra Campaigns.He was promoted to Captain on 10 November 1865, and during the Ashanti War of 1873-74 he was present at the Battle of Amoaful, and at the Defence of Quarman. At Quarman, Dugdale’s troop ‘drove the Ashantees who were attacking it back into the bush with considerable loss… thus Dugdale had saved and retained this important post.’ Dugdale was also present at Dah, and at the capture of Coomassie, after which he was appointed prize Commissioner on behalf of the European troops, ‘securing’ valuables and treasures from the palace, including ‘the gold masks of which the 2nd Battalion subsequently purchased…’Dugdale received the brevet of Major on 1 May 1878, he was promoted to the substantive rank on 7 August 1880, and from 8 December 1882 to 29 June 1884 commanded the depot at Deolali. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 12 April 1884, was given command of the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 12 February 1887, and was given the brevet of Colonel on 12 April 1888, retiring to Half-Pay on 12 April 1890. He died on 8 September, 1911, at Winchester, at the age of 74.Ex Spink, 30 November, 2004

Estimate: GBP 1500 - 2000