The very good and unusual Crimean War Turkish Contingent and volunteer with British Army troops for the attack on the Redan on 18th June 1855 at Sebastopol, Indian Mutiny Cawnpore November 1857 casualty, and North West Frontier Umbeyla Expedition group awarded to Major General Charles Armstrong, Indian Army, formerly Honourable East India Company Forces. Armstrong was originally commissioned into the Bengal Army with the 10th Bengal Native Infantry in July 1845, and saw service in the Crimea as a local Captain with the Turkish Contingent, amongst whom a small number of H.E.I.C officers saw service, which usually only saw them gain entitlement to the Turkish Crimea Medal, however Armstrong is unusual in that he also volunteered for service with the 49th Hertfordshire Regiment of Foot for its attack on the Redan on 18th June 1855 during the siege of Sebastopol, and as such he gained entitlement to the British Crimea Medal with clasp Sebastopol. Having returned to India, Armstrong once again found himself on attachment to the British Army, this time during the Indian Mutiny as a Lieutenant and Interpreter on attachment to the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Present under Major General Wyndham at Cawnpore between 26th to 29th November 1857, on the latter date he was severely wounded through both legs, with his right leg being amputated. Despite the loss of his right leg, Armstrong saw service as second-in-command of the 14th Bengal Native Infantry during the fighting on the North West Frontier during the Umbeyla Expedition which lasted from 20th October to 23rd December 1863, and was eventually promoted to Major General on the Retired List in February 1881.
Group of 4: Crimea Medal 1854-1856, 1 Clasp: Sebastopol; (CAPTN. CHAS. ARMSTRONG VOLUNTEER WITH 49TH. FOOT); Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, no clasp; (LT. & INTERPR. C. ARMSTRONG, ATTD: 2ND. BN. RIFLE BDE:); India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Umbelya; (CAPTAIN C. ARMSTRONG 14TH. NATIVE INFY.); Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, British issue, with modified wider double ring suspension, unnamed as issued.
Condition: light contact wear, specifically to first two, overall about Good Very Fine.
Charles Armstrong was the son of James Armstrong, Bengal Civil Service, and a brother of James Wells Armstrong and Arthur Savory Armstrong. Having opted for a military career, he joined the Honourable East India Company Forces, being commissioned as an Ensign into the 10th Bengal Native Infantry on 22nd July 1845, and then promoted to Lieutenant on 29th July 1849.
With the onset of the Crimean War, he saw service in the Crimea as a local Captain with the Turkish Contingent, amongst whom a small number of H.E.I.C officers saw service, which usually only saw them gain entitlement to the Turkish Crimea Medal, however Armstrong is unusual in that he also volunteered for service with the 49th Hertfordshire Regiment of Foot for its attack on the Redan on 18th June 1855 during the siege of Sebastopol, and as such he gained entitlement to the British Crimea Medal with clasp Sebastopol.
Having then returned to India, Armstrong saw service during the Indian Mutiny as a Lieutenant and Interpreter on attachment to the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, and fought under Major General Wyndham at Cawnpore between 26th to 29th November 1857, on which date he was severely wounded through both legs, with his right leg being amputated. Armstrong was promoted to Brevet Captain and then to Captain on 22nd July 1860, and transferred across to the Indian Army on its formation with the dissolution of the H.E.I.C. forces.
Despite the loss of his right leg, Armstrong saw service as second-in-command of the 14th Bengal Native Infantry during the fighting on the North West Frontier during the Umbeyla Expedition which lasted from 20th October to 23rd December 1863.
The Umbeyla operations consisted of an expedition against Muslims in Sittana and particularly the village of Malka. The Yusafzai Field Force of approximately 5600 men under Brigadier General Sir N.B. Chamberlain. K.C.B., and later Major General Sir J. Garvock, K.C.B., advanced up the Umbeyla Pass but encountered strong opposition. Heavy casualties were sustained during attempts to hold the ‘Eagle’s Nest’ and ‘Crag Piquet’. The troops organised into two Brigades, drove the rebels out of the valley and then a small party under Colonel Reynell Taylor with an escort off Guides, went forward and burned Malka. Some of the most severe fighting on the Frontier occurred during this campaign and the expedition suffered some 900 casualties. Two Victoria Crosses were also awarded.
Armstrong was promoted to Major on 22nd July 1865, to Lieutenant Colonel on 22nd July 1871, to Colonel on 22nd July 1876, and to Major General on 26th February 1881, and died on 27th November 1894.
