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Auction: 14001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 7

A Good 'Crimea' C.B. Group of Six to Colonel H.C.C. Owen, Royal Engineers, Who Was Thanked For His Services in South Africa, 1846-7, And Lost a Leg as a Result of a Wound Received in the Trenches in Front of the Redan, 19.4.1855
a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion's (C.B.) breast Badge, gold (indistinct Hallmarks for London) and enamel, 1st 1815 wide suspension type, with swivel ring, maker's initials 'IN' on suspension loop, with its integral gold riband buckle
b) South Africa 1834-53 (2nd Capt. H.C.C. Owen, Rl. Engrs.), edge bruising
c) Crimea 1854-56, one clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued, foliate suspension ends smoothed, possibly to facilitate mounting
d) France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, 62mm including crown suspension x 42mm, silver, gold applique, and enamel, enamel damage
e) Turkey, Order of Medjidieh, Fifth Class breast Badge, 73mm including Star and Crescent suspension x 49mm, silver, gold, and enamel, minor enamel damage to altered suspension, with additional contemporary silver riband buckle
f) Turkish Crimea, British die, neatly plugged with ring and ball suspension, light contact marks overall, minor enamel damage to the Medjidieh, nearly very fine or better, with several photographic images of recipient (lot)

C.B. London Gazette 5.2.1856 Major Henry Charles Cunliffe Owen, Royal Engineers.

Colonel Henry Charles Cunliffe Owen, C.B., was born Lausanne, Switzerland, October 1821, the son of Captain C.C. Owen, R.N., and was educated privately and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, March 1839, he was promoted Lieutenant, September 1841, and served in South Africa during the Kaffir War of 1846-47, where he supervised the construction of the boat bridge over the Fish River. He was thanked for his services in General Orders by Sir P. Maitland and Sir G. Pechels, and promoted Second Captain, October 1847.

In November 1850 Owen was permitted by the Commander-in-Chief to accept an appointment under the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and was employed firstly as computer of space for the United Kingdom, then as superintendent of the Foreign Departments, and finally, after the Exhibition was opened, as its General Superintendent; after the Exhibition closed he was appointed to another civilian post as Inspector of Art Schools, Department of Practical Art, Board of Trade, and was elected as an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, February 1852.

With the outbreak of the Crimean War Owen re-joined the British forces before Sebastopol, where he was wounded by a musketball, when engaged in the trenches directing his men to turn some rifle-pits in front of the Redan which had just been captured from the Russians, 19.4.1855 (London Gazette 1.5.1855 refers); he lost his leg and was invalided home; the History of the Corps of Royal Engineers by Whitworth Porter gives the following: 'On the night of April 19th two large rifle-pits which had been constructed by the Russians, well in front of their post at the Quarries, and which, owing to the advance of our trenches on the left of our right attack, had become perilously close, were assaulted. For the purpose of the attack 600 men of the 77th Regiment under Colonel Egerton were brought into the trenches, and Lieutenant Colonel Tylden, R.E., in charge of the right attack, explained the proposed course of proceeding. At 9.30pm the dash was made, the enemy driven out after a sharp resistance, and the working party brought forward to make the necessary lodgement. This consisted of 150 men, who were in the charge of Captain Owen, R.E., and Lieutenant Baynes, R.E., with a brigade of Sappers. The nearest rifle-pit was promptly reversed, so as to give cover from the Quarries, and connected on its left with our advanced boyeau, whilst on the right it was prolonged to form a more extended lodgement. The enemy returned repeatedly to the attack during the night, and a very heavy fire was kept up on the working party. The British were, however, not to be dislodged, and the pit from that moment became part of our advanced attack. Unfortunately, this success was not secured without heavy loss, Colonel Egerton, who led the assault, was killed, and both of the Engineers, Owen and Baynes, wounded, the latter mortally; Captain Owen had his leg shattered by a grape shot, necessitating amputation'.

For his services in the Crimea Owen was promoted Brevet Major; appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath; Mentioned in Lord Raglan's Despatches; awarded the French Legion of Honour and the Turkish Order of the Medjidieh; and awarded a pension of £100 per annum). Upon returning home he was appointed Assistant Inspector-General of Fortifications at the War Office, October 1855; he later served as Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications under Sir John Fax Burgoyne, 1856-60, before being appointed Commanding Royal Engineer of the Western District; and was advanced Brevet Colonel, November 1861. Colonel Owen died in 1867, and is buried in Plymouth Cemetery. A stained-glass window was erected to his memory in the Chancel of St. James's Church, Plymouth.

Provenance: Spink, July 2007

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Estimate
£3,500 to £4,500