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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 15

Army of India 1799-1826, short-hyphen reverse, 1 clasp, Nepaul (Cornet E. J. Honywood. 7th Cavy.), officially engraved naming, very fine

Edward John Honywood was born at Honiton, Devon on 26 June 1790, the only son of The Rev. Edward, Rector of Honiton and Sophia. A scion of the Honywood Baronets of Evington, Kent, young Honywood was elected as a Cadet in 1807 and arrived in India in November 1808, being made Cornet in the 7th Native Cavalry. With his unit he served in the Nepaul War of 1814-15 and was made Acting Quartermaster in 1816, being appointed Lieutenant on 30 November 1816. Adjutant from December 1816-1819, he served in the Third Mahratta War and was at the Siege and Capture of Hathras.

Honywood was then advanced Captain in August 1822 and joined the elite Governor General's Body Guard in December 1822, a unit he would remain with for over a decade. He was made A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief from 14 January 1823-11 February 1824, at that time General Sir Edward Paget. Brigade-Major of the Malwa Field Force from December 1823, he was made Commander of the Body Guard from March 1827-April 1834, being advanced Major in December 1832. He was then Superintendent of the Mysore Princes from April 1834-June 1836 and was A.D.C. to the Governor-General from 21 March 1835. On furlough from May 1836, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1837 and retired in November 1838.

Honywood retired to Devon and having been made Hon. Colonel in November 1854, died without issue at Whimple, near Exeter on 12 December 1867. A memorial was raised to his memory at St Mary's, which reads:

'IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF/ EDWARD JOHN HONYWOOD,/ LATE COLONEL BEGAL CAVALRY, WHOSE CONSTANT AIM IT WAS/ DURING A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE TO DO HIS DUTY TO GOD/ AND MAN./ BORN AT HONITON. 26TH JUNE 1790/ DIED AT WHIMPLE. 12TH DECEMBER/ 1867/ HIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY / A FEW OF HIS OLD BROTHER OFFICERS AND FRIENDS/ WHO THUS SEEK TO COMMEMORATE THEIR HIGH/ ESTIMATION OF HIS CHARACTER AS A GALLANT/ AND WARM HEARTED COMRADE AND AN/ UPRIGHT CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN./ THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED.'

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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£1600