The important January 1891 Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire and Chin-Lushai 1889-90 Expedition pair awarded to Mr. Charles Stewart Murray, Bengal Police, the Superintendent of Police for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Assistant Political Officer for the operations attempting to subjugate the Lushai tribes. It was Murray who having initially seen service as a member of the Lushai Expeditionary Force with the forces under Colonel Tregear in the period from 11th January to 5th May 1889, went on to serve in the same capacity with the Chittagong Column during the Chin Lushai Expedition in northern Burma which lasted from 13th November 1889 to 30th April 1890, service for which he was appointed the first Superintendent of Police for the South Lushai Hills District from the end of the operations in April 1890 until 16th April 1891, during which period he was appointed a Companion of The Most Excellent Order of the Indian Empire. However it would seem that his heavy-handed behaviour amongst other matters would lead to the outbreak of the Lushai uprising of 1891, when Murray was attacked and narrowly escaped with his life. A successful punitive expedition would be led as a reprisal for this incident, however Murray was swiftly moved on and appointed the Assistant Commissioner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The Most Excellent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion, 2nd type breast badge, gold and enamels, complete with gold top brooch bar; India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Chin-Lushai 1889-90; (MR: C.S. MURRAY DIST. SUPDT: OF POLICE), mounted swing style as worn.
Condition: slight loss to enamel on one petal of first, overall Good Very Fine.
Together with the recipient’s pair of miniature medals, namely The Most Excellent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion, 2nd type breast badge, gold and enamels, complete with gold top brooch bar, and the India General Service Medal 1854-1895, this with clasp for Looshai.
Charles Stewart Murray was born on 4th December 1858, the son of Brigadier General Alexandr Henry Murray, the grand-son of the 4th Earl of Dunmore, and his wife, Martha Frances Vincent Davenport.
Murray went on to see service out in India with the Bengal Police, and was appointed the Superintendent of Police for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a position he held as of 1888. Murray then took part in the Chin Lushai Expedition in northern Burma which lasted from 13th November 1889 to 30th April 1890 when serving as a District Superintendent of Police and employed as an Assistant Political Officer for the operations attempting to subjugate the Lushai tribes. Prior to the operations beginning, Murray was playing a significant part in the doings in that area, and served as a member of the Lushai Expeditionary Force with the forces under Colonel Tregear in the period from 11th January to 5th May 1889, for which he should be entitled to the rare Looshai 1889-92 clasp.
Back on 17th February 1889 a party of 100 men with Murray and Captain Shakespear left the Chittagong Column base at Demagiri to visit Sayipuia’s village, ‘who was now convinced that we meant business and gave his whole support to our demands. Murray then went on to Vandula’s where he was well received, and heard news of Howsata’s death. The advance on Howsata’s village was commenced on the 14th March, starting with the fort which had been established at Lungleh. Jahuta’s village was reached on the 19th March and Howsata’s on the 20th. Howsata’s grave was examined and underneath his body was found Lieutenant Stewart’s gun, proving, as Mr Lyall’s report says, “that he had punished the right men.” The village was destroyed, and so was Jahuta’s.’ By 16th April 1889 substantial punishment had been exacted, Fort Lungleh was established, and a portion of the subjugation of the Lushai tribes had occurred, but there was still more to be done to gain permanent pacification. Lyall gained the favour of Lyall, the Commissioner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, who recommended Murray for appointment to be a District Superintendent of Police, which rank he would then hold when he went on to serve as the Assistant Political Officer during the Chin-Lushai Expedition.
To this end on 11th September 1889 the Government of India opted to launch the Chin-Lushai Expedition, which officially began on 13th November 1889, when the Burma Column under Brigadier General W.P. Symons began the operations against the Chin tribe, whilst the Chittagong Column under Colonel later General F.V.W. Tregear took part in the operations against the Lushai tribe. Murray would be a part of the Chittagong Column as an Assistant Political Officer under the Commissioner, Mr. Lyall.
Murray was subsequently appointed the first Superintendent of Police for the South Lushai Hills District from the end of the operations in April 1890 until 16th April 1891, when his position was taken over by Captain J. Shakespear. Murray had been moved on and appointed the Assistant Commissioner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, owing to issues he had caused amongst the Lushai people.
Murray had also been appointed a Companion of The Most Excellent Order of the Indian Empire for his services during the expedition and as the first Superintendent of Police for the South Lushai Hills District, the award being published in the London Gazette for 1st January 1891.
It seems that Murray’s final days as the Superintendent of Police for the South Lushai Hills District were marred by some controversy, namely in the account one Panjiham Tipeerah, an interpreter for Murray, who left an account concerning Murray’s actives in the area from 1st to 18th February 1891. “Jacopa sent 50 coolies to carry the baggage. Mr Murray had asked for 100. On the arrival of Mr Murray to Jacopa’s village, Jacopa met the Saheb with welcome. Mr Murray told me to get two girls for himself and the Chota Saheb (Mr. Tayler). I said, where shall I get them from. Mr Murray said, tell the Chief to get them. I did so. Then I and Vaitlaia and Jacopa searched for these girls, and could not get them any. Then we went to Mr Murray and told him and he said ‘why cannot you get them; go and make a ‘Banda bust’. Afterward we persuaded two girls to come but when I told them that they would sleep with the Saheb, they said “no, we won’t” and run away. Then we three went to Saheb again. We said we will catch them if you like. Jacopa agreed to this. Then Murray Saheb said “no do not catch them, the Sepoy will see, but if you cannot being me two women, I will have the wives of Jacopa and Pajika. Jacopa was present and Mr Murray said in Lushai, and at once Jacopa’s family began to leave the village…”
Whether this is true or not, It seems that Murray was quite unpopular with the local Lushai people, and another account, relating to the same expedition of early February 1891, records that Murray ‘made a requisition for labour on the Fanai chief, Zakapa, the latter evaded by taking shelter at the village of his subordinate chief, Lalchhuma. Murray threatened him that unless the demand was paid he would seize his family, not sparing even his wife. Stung by this insult, the Lushais prevented their chief from complying with the demands. In retaliation, Murray burnt down Zakapa’s village and destroyed the granaries, which resulted in the outbreak of the uprising. Murray was attacked and narrowly escaped with his life.’
In the aftermath of the attack on Murray, an expedition under Captain E.P. Hutchinson was launched against the village of Jacopa to avenge the attack on Murray, this operation lasted from 20th February to 3rd March 1891, and would result in the men taking part in the operation gaining entitlement to the Looshai 1889-92 clasp.
Murray married Laura Susan Prestage, daughter of Franklin Prestage, in January 1892, with whom he had three children. He however died at the young age of 44 on 4th May 1903.
