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IGS Persia Officer Light Infantry

India General Service Medal, 1854, bar Persia, Major General Anthony Alfred Des Voeux, at the time as young Lieutenant leading the Light Infantry Battalion at the Bombardment and Capture of Mohamera.

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SKU: J6757 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Very Fine

Description

India General Service Medal, 1854, bar Persia, Major General Anthony Alfred Des Voeux, at the time as young Lieutenant leading the Light Infantry Battalion at the Bombardment and Capture of Mohamera.

 

Officially impressed: “Lt A. A. Des Voeux. L.I. Bn”

 

Major General Alfred Anthony Des Voeux was born during 1830. He first became a Cadet at Addiscombe from 1847 to 1848, being then admitted into service with the East Indian Company, arriving in Bombay during March 1849.

 

His first campaign was with the Persian Expeditionary Forces of 1857 where he commanded the Left Flank Company of the 5th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Present in Command along side Lieut Fellowes of the Light Company of the 5th N.I. in the Bombardment and Capture of Mohamera.

 

He soon afterwards saw service as a Commissariat Officer under General Sir Hugh Rose in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

 

From November 1858 until 1859 he was serving in North China during the Second China War with the Military Train and took part in the advance on Pekin during 1860.

 

He would again serve with his regiment, the 5th Regiment of Native Infantry during the Second Afghanistan War of 1878-80, where he earned the medal without bars.

 

His Afghanistan Medal was sold by DNW Auctions during 2009.

 

Obituary in the Army and Navy Gazette 14th May 1904:

 

“Major General Alfred Austin (should read Anthony but same man) Des Voeux, Colonel, Retired List, Indian Army, died at his residence, 14, Elliot Street, Plymouth, on Monday. He joined the Army Dec 8 1848; became Captain Dec 17 1860; Major Dec 8 1868; Lieut Colonel Dec 8 1874: Colonel Dec 8, 1879; and retired with the hon rank of Major General March 20, 1880.

 

He served in the Persian Expedition, 1857, at the bombardment and capture of the forts of Mohumra, and the pursuit of the Persian Army (medal with clasp).
Served also with the Horse Transport. Served in the war in China in 1860, and was present under Sir Hope Grant at the landing at Pehtang, action of Sinho, capture of Tangku, and assault and capture of the Taku Forts.

 

He accompanied the advance of the army on Tientsin and Peking, including the battle of Chang-kia-wau and Tung Chow, and the occupation of Peking (medal with 2 clasps).”

 


He had married Isabelle Diana Des Voeux and had a son Sir Edward Alfred Des Voeux, during 1864, who would become the 8th Des Voeux Baronet of Indiaville and had the unusual distinction of being likely the oldest soldier, when a Private in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps to be killed in action in the gallant Defence of Hong Kong at the young age of 72.

 

It was noted that he refused to stand idly by as the Japanese invaded, as a volunteer with “Hughes Group” he was deployed to guard the Hong Kong Electric Company.

 

Apparently old Sir Edward who had ended up in the front lines of a fierce battle with the Japanese invaders, chose to hold out in the Government Stores and rather than dashing out and attempting to escape with his comrades, he chose to remain and make his last stand, he was last reported to have been killed by Japanese Mortar Fire whilst fighting back against the enemy.

 

Sir Edward had only become the Baronet in 1941, as his Uncle had no children, it passed on to Sir William Richard de Bacquencourt Des Voeux, who soon afterwards deployed to Arnhem and was also killed in action during 1944, making the Baronetcy exctinct.