Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 52

The superb campaign pair awarded to Colonel W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry, an Australian-born Indian Army Officer, who was thanked for his services in the Jowaki Expedition 1877, seeing out all of his service on the North-West Frontier and Afghanistan, being thrice 'mentioned' in the latter campaign

India General Service 1854-94, 3 clasps, Umbeyla, North West Frontier, Jowaki 1877-8 (Lieut. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infantry) unofficial connection between 1st & 2nd clasps; Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Kabul, Kandahar (Maj. W. B. Aislabie, 3rd Sikh Infy.), good very fine (2)

Ex-Brian Ritchie Collection.

William Benjamin Aislabie was born at Richmond, Van Diemens Land, Australia, the son Reverend William John Aislabie and his wife Amerlia. Notably his elder brother was Rawson Aislabie - later Major General - one of only five officers to escape the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Delhi. His grandfather was Benjamin Aislabie, a famous cricketer and secretary of the M.C.C.. Most of the Reverend Aislabie's children appear to have been born in Australia, suggesting the family was residing there at the time. However they had returned to Britain by 1851, settling at Alpheton, Suffolk where the younger Aislabie appears upon the census.

The Indian Army and North-West Frontier

Commissioned into the Indian Army as an Ensign on 20 December 1859, Aislabie was advanced Lieutenant in the 3rd Sikh Infantry on 23 November 1861. Serving throughout the Umbeyla campaign of 1863, he was present for the actions of 15-16 December as well as the Hazara campaign of 1868, including the expedition against the tribes on the Black Mountain.

Promoted Captain after the Hazara campaign on 29 June 1869 he was serving in that rank during the Jowaki Expedition 1877. Whilst there his commanding officer, Colonel Mocatta, succeeded to the command of the force consisting of the 1st Sikhs and 4th Punjab Infantry in addition to the 3rd Sikhs. Aislabie took command of the Regiment and led them during the campaign in which his column was to make a demonstration through the Tortung Pass towards Gumbut. The operation involved some skirmishing and cost the life of one man of the 3rd Sikhs and five wounded before returning to Kohat next day.

In September Aislabie, in command of a detachment of 220 rifles, relieved a similar party of the 1st Sikhs at Gundiali and was employed for a fortnight in heavy patrolling duty from Gumbut. At the end of the month he commanded 447 rifles and, together with the 1st Sikhs, covered the building of a fort at Gundiali during which three men were wounded.

In the autumn the Jowaki Afridis turned up the heat, attacking tribes between Peshawar and Kohat. Two 'Piffer' punitive columns were organised under Brigadier-Generals Keyes and Ross. The 3rd Sikhs advanced with the main force (the Kohat Column) under the former and on 1 December 1877 attacked and captured Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the Jowaki Afridis. The tribesmen fled into the hills and the Jowaki headmen sought peace. But, they found the terms unacceptable and hostilities were resumed until the tribesmen were utterly defeated by 250 British cavalry on 15 February. Aislabie was subsequently thanked for his services in Keyes despatch (GO No. 738 of 9 August 1878) in the following terms:

'The command of the 3rd Sikh Infantry devolved, in the absence of Colonel Mocatta and Major Money, on Captain W. B. Aislabie, who carried out the duty in the advance on Piah, the advance on the Dargai heights and operations at Narel Kula to my entire satisfaction and with much credit to himself.'

Afghanistan

With the renewal of hostilities in the Second Afghan War on 6 September 1879, Aislabie accompanied his Regiment from Bunnoo to Kurram. Orders were received for the march to the Shuturgardan Pass on the road to Kabul on 20 September which they were to defend with distinction. The pass was reached on 25 September and Aislabie was duly present at the repulses of the enemy with heavy loss on 2 October and again on 14 October.

On the latter occasion, 'A large body of tribesmen had, for a short time, commanded the British position and broken its telegraphic communication with the Kuram. Major C. J. Griffiths, who went out with 250 Sikhs to dislodge the enemy, was wounded early in the engagement, but his men, led by Captain W. B. Aislabie, drove the tribesmen from the heights with the loss of their main standard, captured by Jemadar Gunesa Sing, and of two or three hundred killed and wounded, whilst, including Griffiths and Signalling-Sergeant Browne, the victors had only eight men wounded.'

With this heavy engagement the Afghans were totally routed and pursued for two miles though not dispersed. For this action he was 'mentioned' in Roberts' dispatch of 15 October which states: '… and further brings to my notice the names of Major Griffiths, 3rd Sikhs, who led the attack until wounded; of Captain Aislabie, 3rd Sikhs, who succeeded to the command…'

Following the abandonment of the Shutargardan on 30 October and the Regiment's arrival at Kabul, Aislabie took part in the defeat of the Afghans by Macpherson's Brigade in the Chardeh Valley on 10 December, and again on 11 December when Massy's guns were recovered. When 400 men of the 92nd Highlanders, the Corps of Guides, and 300 rifles of the 3rd Sikhs, under Brigadier-General T. D. Baker marched out from the Sherpur cantonment on 13 December to attack and carry the Takht-i-Shah peak, Aislabie went up the spur with 100 rifles as escort to No.3 Mountain Battery. For his work in this action he was again 'mentioned'.

In the afternoon next day, 'the enemy attacked a strong picket left on the conical hill below Asmai heights and succeeded in driving the defenders away with the loss of 2 mountain guns, following them down into the plains. The 100 rifles under Captain Aislabie were ordered at the double to check the enemy and cover the retirement. The 3rd Sikhs formed skirmishing order, passed through our retirement, engaged the enemy and drove them up the hill ... In this affair all ranks behaved with coolness and gallantry.'

Between 14 and 23 December Aislabie served in the Defence of Sherpur. Promoted to Field Rank on 20 December, he was appointed Wing Commander in his corps on the same date, vice Major Griffiths. He accompanied the regiment into the Logar, Wardak, and Maidan valleys in May 1880 to collect supplies and destroy refractory Ghilzai villages. Joining the march from Kabul to the relief of Kandahar in August he was present at the crushing defeat of Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September. For services in the Afghan War of 1878-80, he was three times mentioned in Roberts' despatches, received the Medal with two clasps and the Bronze Kabul to Kandahar Star.

Epilogue

The 3rd Sikhs arrived at Dera Ghazi Khan in November 1880 and occupied the Right Infantry lines and, on the departure of Colonel Money on sick furlough to Europe, Aislabie was appointed to officiate as second in command. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 December 1885 he finally became Commandant of his corps in December 1887 on the retirement of Major Griffiths. 'By GGO dated 15th March, Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Aislabie was permitted to retire from the service with effect from 18th March [1889] and was struck off the strength of the Regiment.'

Returning to Britain, Aislabie was granted probate on the estate of his brother Major-General Rawson Aislabie the next year in 1890. He died at Cheltenham on 12 June 1910, his obituary in the Gloucester Journal reads:

'Lieut. Colonel William Benjamin Aislabie who died on June 14th at 1, Berkeley-place, Cheltenham, retired from the Indian Army on December 20th, 1885. He served in the Frontier of India campaign, 1863, and was present at the forcing of the Umbeyla Pass, for which he received the medal with clasp. He added another clasp to the ribbon for the Hazara campaign in 1868. For his services in the Jowaki expedition, 1877-8 he was mentioned in despatches and received a third clasp. He also took part in the Afghan War, and was present with the 3rd Sikhs at the operations in the Shuturgardam Pass, the action Surkh Kotal, Chardeh Valley, Takht-i-Shah, and Osmai; the operations in Sherpur; and the march from Kabul to Kandahar, with the battle of September 1st.'

Sold together with copied research including census data, obituary and former auction listings.

References: Hodson Index (NAM); Historical Records of the 3rd Sikh Infantry 1847-1930 (Shepherd); The Afghan Campaign of 1878-1880 (Shadbolt); The Second Afghan War (Hanna).

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£1,800 to £2,200

Starting price
£1600