A RARE EARLY INDIAN CAMPAIGN GROUP TO AN OFFICER OF THE 16TH LANCERS WHO AFTER TAKING PART IN STORMING OF GHUZNEE AND THE BATTLE OF MAHARAJPORE, TOOK PART IN THE FIRST SIKH WAR WHERE HIS REGIMENT WERE FAMED FOR THEIR GALLANT CHARGES AT THE BATTLE OF ALIWAL. AN OFFICER WHO WAS ‘CELEBRATED FOR HIS EXTREME COOLNESS’, DURING HIS TIME IN INDIA, HE HAD THE RARE EXPERIENCE TO ENGAGE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THREE DUELS. HAVING BEEN PROMOTED GENERAL AND COLONEL OF THE 16TH LANCERS, HE WAS MADE K.C.B. IN 1893

GHUZNEE 1839 ‘LIEUTENANT C. J. FOSTER, H.M’S 16TH LANCERS’ NAMED IN RUNNING SCRIPT IN REVERSE, FITTED WITH RING AND GILT SWIVEL SUSPENSION; MAHARAJPOOR STAR 1843 ‘LIEUTENANT C. J. FOSTER H.M’S 16TH LANCERS’ FITTED WITH GILT SWIVEL SUSPENSION; SUTLEJ 1845-46, FOR ALIWAL 1846 ‘.... C: J: FOSTER 16TH L....’ FITTED WITH RING AND GILT SWIVEL SUSPENSION, THE RIBBON WITH PRIVATELY MADE SLIDE CLASP ‘SOBRAON’

K.C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1893

C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1877

General Sir Charles John Foster K.C.B. was born in 1818 and was Commissioned Ensign in the 3rd Foot on 8 April 1836 and advanced to Lieutenant on 21 December 1838. Transferring to the 16th Lancers the following day, Lieutenant Foster would spend the next few years campaigning in Afghanistan and India. He served in the first Afghan campaign, being present at the storm of Ghuznee, the Gwalior campaign, including the battle of Maharajpore and the first Sikh War. During the latter, as A.D.C. to Brigadier-General Cureton (16th Lancers) at the action at Budiwal, the battle of Aliwal.

At the battle of Aliwal, the 16th Lancers were conspicuous for their gallantry in charging and breaking the Sikh square but at great loss. Mustering around 500 before the battle, the 16th Lancers would loose 2 Officers and 56 men killed, 6 Officers and 77 men wounded, total 141. These were by far the heaviest losses to any Regiment present and nearly a quarter of the 580 total losses to the British. The 16th would also take part in the battle of Sobraon in Feburary 1846……………

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Condition, Sutlej Fine only; rank and part of ‘LANCERS’ illegible due to pitting from star. The Star and Ghuznee NVF and better. With old display name plate. Medals were consigned by family to DNW auctions in 2015.

Given General Foster was a Cavalry Officer who served for 50 years after his last Campaign medal was issued, it is unsurprising that his medals show a fair amount of wear. That said this is still an extremely fine and rare group of medals to a must interesting Officer.