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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 521

A rare 'Action at Arrah 1857 casualty's pair to Private J. Ogden, 10th Regiment of Foot, who was killed during the first attempted relief of the besieged Civil Station at Arrah, the same action in which Private Dempsey of the same regiment won the Victoria Cross

Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846 (John Ogden 10th Regt.); Punjab 1848-49, two clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (John Ogden, 10th Foot.), heavy contact marks and contact wear overall, nearly very fine (2)

John Ogden was born in 1820 and enlisted at Manchester on 10 August 1840. Deserting after only three days he returned to face a Court Marshal on 24 October 1840 and imprisoned for three days. Staying with the Colours after this incident Ogden saw two years of home service until being posted to India in May 1892. Arriving there on 8 September 1842 they formed part of the Calcutta Garrison, stationed at Fort William.

Anglo-Sikh War

On the outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War Ogden and the 10th Regiment joined - by way of a series of forced marches - the Army of the Sutlej. Arriving too late to take part in the bloody battles of Moodkee and Ferozepore they were instead to play a prominent role in the climactic Battle of the Sobraon. Forming up as part of Sir Robert Dick's brigade their losses amounted to one officer and 29 men killed with another 130 wounded.

The Regiment remained in the Punjab as part of the army of occupation after the end of the war and as such saw action there two years later when simmering resentment over the British victory boiled over into a second conflict. Leaving their garrison, the 10th joined a column of reinforcements heading to the fortress of Mooltan, where they were again prominent in assaults. After the city fell on 22 January 1849, they joined the rest of the British Army in the final attack at Goojerat.

Mutiny and Arrah

Ogden survived the war remaining in the Punjab for several years the Regiment transferred to Dinapore, Bihar in 1855 - only some 30 miles east of Arrah. Dinapore proved to be one of the Garrisons which mutinied in 1857 although the British lines were not attacked, the detached companies at Benares however were and only saw their attackers off after heavy fighting. It was then that news arrived from Arrah - the garrison had mutinied and a small group of Europeans and loyal sepoys were under siege in the local civil station.

A relief force was assembled with the 10th Regiment providing 150 officers and men to the column of 405 men. Advancing at first by steamer they disembarked approximately ten miles away from the town, preparing to march the rest of the distance. They made the outskirts of Arrah after approximately four hours, when they were ambushed from the cover of a nearby embankment.

The rebels waited until the British were around 30 yards away before opening fire. Captain Charles Dunbar of the 10th Regiment was killed in the opening salvo and the rest of the column was forced into a disorderly withdrawal. After a short flight their officers regained control however the they were unable to break through and instead pulled back under heavy fire to the boats. The 10th Regiment suffered 47 officer's and other ranks killed including Ogden, during the withdrawal to the boats Private Dempsey of the 10th won the Victoria Cross; sold together with typed research and a copied casualty roll.

Further entitled to the Indian Mutiny Medal.

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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£320