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Auction: 4004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 188

Medals to the Baker Family Sutlej 1846, for Sobraon, no clasps (Capt W: E: Baker Engineers), extremely fine Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, one clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (Capt. J.V.V. Baker, C/3. Bde R.A.), contact marks, edge bruising, nearly very fine (2) Estimate £ 600-700 General Sir William Erskine Baker, K.C.B. (1808-81), Second Lieutenant Bengal Engineers 15.12.1826; Lieutenant 28.9.1827; Captain 31.3.1840; served in Sikh War 1845-46 ands took part in the Sutlej Campaign. At Sobraon he guided the main attack on the Sikh entrenchments leading to Lord Harding commenting, 'To Captain Baker and Lieutenant Becher, of the Engineers, the Governor-General's acknowledgements are due, for leading the Division of attack into the enemy's camp. These officers well maintained the reputation of their Corps whenever gallantry or science may be required from its members.' Mentioned in Despatches and received the Brevet of Major 19.6.1846; employed in the Public Works Department and was successively Superintendent of the Delhi Canals, and the Canals and Forests in Scinde, Director of the Ganges Canal, Consulting Engineer to the Government of India for Railways and Secretary to the Government of India in the Public Works Department-regarded as the greatest authority of the time on irrigation; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 20.6.1854; Lieutenant Colonel 21.6.1854; Colonel 10.3.1857; Military Secretary to India Office 1858; 1861 became a member of the Council of India in the capacity of Chief Advisor to the home Government on Indian engineering matters Major General 2.8.1865; K.C.B. 1870; Lieutenant General 1.4.1874; General 1.10.1877; retired 29.11.1878. Colonel James Volant Vashon Baker (1849-1909), son of General Sir William Baker; Lieutenant Royal Artillery 8.1.1870; served in India 1870-74; Inspector of Warlike Stores, Mauritius, 1876-80; Captain 28.7.1880; served in Egypt 1880-81; Major 20.1.1886; Lieutenant Colonel 1.8.1896; Colonel 1.8.1900; retired 1901

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