Major O. H. St. G. Anson
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H. M. 9th Lancers
Indian campaign group of four medals to
Major O. H. St. G. Anson, 9th or Queen’s
Royal Lancers consisting of :
Punniar Star 1843, fitted with
contemporary silver bar suspension;
Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846;
Punjab 1848-49 with clasps for
Chilianwala and Goojerat;
Indian Mutiny medal 1857-58 with clasps
for Delhi, Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow.
Major O. H. St. G. Anson, 9th or Queen’s
Royal Lancers consisting of :
Punniar Star 1843, fitted with
contemporary silver bar suspension;
Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon 1846;
Punjab 1848-49 with clasps for
Chilianwala and Goojerat;
Indian Mutiny medal 1857-58 with clasps
for Delhi, Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow.
Octavius Henry St. George Anson was born on the 28th of September, 1818, the sixth son of General Sir George Anson, G.C.B., K.
T.S., Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards and Governor of Chelsea Hospital, and his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Captain John
William Hamilton.
Anson was a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst from 1832 to 1835. Upon graduation he was appointed
an Ensign in the 3rd Foot (‘The Buffs) on the 27th of November, 1835. Anson proceeded to India with his regiment in 1837 and
was promoted to Lieutenant on the 8th of December, 1838. He was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor General from March 1840
until April 1843, when he exchanged into the 9th Lancers.
Anson served with the 9th Lancers in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, and was present at the battle of Punniar on the 29th of
December. During the First Sikh War of 1845-46, he was present at the battle of Sobraon. In the Second Sikh War of 1848-
49, he was present with the 9th Lancers at the passage of the Chenab at Ramnuggur, and the battles of Chilianwala and
Goojerat. He was promoted to Captain on the 19th of October, 1849.
On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, Anson found himself in command of the 9th Lancers as the regiment marched to Delhi, all
higher ranked officers being absent at the time. His subsequent services during the Mutiny are recorded in his letter of the
10th of October, 1858, to Major Hart in London:
“Services of Captain & Bt. Major O. H. St. Geo. Anson, H.M. 9th (Q.R.) Lancers. Present at the battle of Badlee-Ka-Serai, 8th
June 1857; present at the siege and capture of Delhi in 1857. Brought the regiment out of action on the 19th June 1857 after
his commander, the gallant Lt. Colonel R.A. Yule, fell. Present in command of the 2nd Squadron on the 12th August during the
capture of four of the enemy’s guns by Brigr. Showers. Served with his regiment in the movable column under Coll. Greathed and
was present in the action of Bolundeshur 28th September, succeeding to the command when the gallant Capt. Drysdale fell
severally wounded; affair of Allyghur 5th October, and battle of Agra 10th October; commanded the cavalry of the rear guard
under Lt. Coll. Ewart, H.M. 93rd Highlanders on the 14th November, during Sir Colin Campbell’s advance from Alum Bagh to 2nd
Relief of Lucknow. From 16th to 22nd November under Brigr. Little guarding stores at Dilkoosha and defending rear of Army.
In command of 2nd Squadron, present with the regiment at battle of Cawnpore 6th December, and subsequent pursuit of enemy
and capture of 15 guns at Surapore Ghat by Brigr. Genl. Hope Grant, C.B. Present with Hd. Qrs. of regiment at Khudagunge on
2nd January 1858, and subsequent occupation of Futtyghur. Present at the taking of the fort a Meangunge in command of 2
Squadrons on the 23rd February 1858, present with his regiment at the storm and capture of Lucknow in March 1858.”
Anson’s life was probably saved by Captain Charles Gough of Hodson’s Horse a the action at Meangunge, one of four instances of
gallantry that led to the award of the Victoria Cross to Gough: “Fourthly, for gallantry on the 23rd February, at Meangunge,
where he came to the assistance of Brevet Major O. H. St. George Anson, and killed his opponent, immediately afterwards
cutting down another of the enemy in the same gallant manner.”
The 9th Lancers saw more action than any other British regiment of cavalry during the Indian Mutiny, but, of its 38 officers
who received the medal for the Mutiny, only nine received the medal with all three clasps.
Anson’s service during the Mutiny was to take its toll. In March of 1858, he traveled to a hill station on Medical Certificate to
recuperate, but his health continued to deteriorate. Anson died from fatigue and exposure at Deyrah Dhoon on the 14th of
January 1859. He was 40 years old.
Anson married Katherine Harriette, the daughter of Colonel James Wemyss of the Bengal Army at Cawnpore on the 20th of
February, 1845. Katherine having died in 1845, Anson then married Frances Elizabeth, the daughter of Major-General James
Manson on the 12th of December, 1850. They were to have seven children together. In 1896, Anson’s fourth son, Rev. Harcourt
S. Anson, edited the letters his father had written to his mother during the Indian Mutiny. They were published by W. H. Allen
& Co. of London under the title: With H.M. 9th Lancers During the Indian Mutiny.
Provenance: Anson’s medals were previously listed for sale in the March, 1984 Medal List of York Coin and Stamp Centre. They
formed part of the collection of Gordon Everson and were sold as lot 22 in the Dix Noonan Webb auction of the 28th of March,
2002.
T.S., Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards and Governor of Chelsea Hospital, and his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Captain John
William Hamilton.
Anson was a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst from 1832 to 1835. Upon graduation he was appointed
an Ensign in the 3rd Foot (‘The Buffs) on the 27th of November, 1835. Anson proceeded to India with his regiment in 1837 and
was promoted to Lieutenant on the 8th of December, 1838. He was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor General from March 1840
until April 1843, when he exchanged into the 9th Lancers.
Anson served with the 9th Lancers in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, and was present at the battle of Punniar on the 29th of
December. During the First Sikh War of 1845-46, he was present at the battle of Sobraon. In the Second Sikh War of 1848-
49, he was present with the 9th Lancers at the passage of the Chenab at Ramnuggur, and the battles of Chilianwala and
Goojerat. He was promoted to Captain on the 19th of October, 1849.
On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, Anson found himself in command of the 9th Lancers as the regiment marched to Delhi, all
higher ranked officers being absent at the time. His subsequent services during the Mutiny are recorded in his letter of the
10th of October, 1858, to Major Hart in London:
“Services of Captain & Bt. Major O. H. St. Geo. Anson, H.M. 9th (Q.R.) Lancers. Present at the battle of Badlee-Ka-Serai, 8th
June 1857; present at the siege and capture of Delhi in 1857. Brought the regiment out of action on the 19th June 1857 after
his commander, the gallant Lt. Colonel R.A. Yule, fell. Present in command of the 2nd Squadron on the 12th August during the
capture of four of the enemy’s guns by Brigr. Showers. Served with his regiment in the movable column under Coll. Greathed and
was present in the action of Bolundeshur 28th September, succeeding to the command when the gallant Capt. Drysdale fell
severally wounded; affair of Allyghur 5th October, and battle of Agra 10th October; commanded the cavalry of the rear guard
under Lt. Coll. Ewart, H.M. 93rd Highlanders on the 14th November, during Sir Colin Campbell’s advance from Alum Bagh to 2nd
Relief of Lucknow. From 16th to 22nd November under Brigr. Little guarding stores at Dilkoosha and defending rear of Army.
In command of 2nd Squadron, present with the regiment at battle of Cawnpore 6th December, and subsequent pursuit of enemy
and capture of 15 guns at Surapore Ghat by Brigr. Genl. Hope Grant, C.B. Present with Hd. Qrs. of regiment at Khudagunge on
2nd January 1858, and subsequent occupation of Futtyghur. Present at the taking of the fort a Meangunge in command of 2
Squadrons on the 23rd February 1858, present with his regiment at the storm and capture of Lucknow in March 1858.”
Anson’s life was probably saved by Captain Charles Gough of Hodson’s Horse a the action at Meangunge, one of four instances of
gallantry that led to the award of the Victoria Cross to Gough: “Fourthly, for gallantry on the 23rd February, at Meangunge,
where he came to the assistance of Brevet Major O. H. St. George Anson, and killed his opponent, immediately afterwards
cutting down another of the enemy in the same gallant manner.”
The 9th Lancers saw more action than any other British regiment of cavalry during the Indian Mutiny, but, of its 38 officers
who received the medal for the Mutiny, only nine received the medal with all three clasps.
Anson’s service during the Mutiny was to take its toll. In March of 1858, he traveled to a hill station on Medical Certificate to
recuperate, but his health continued to deteriorate. Anson died from fatigue and exposure at Deyrah Dhoon on the 14th of
January 1859. He was 40 years old.
Anson married Katherine Harriette, the daughter of Colonel James Wemyss of the Bengal Army at Cawnpore on the 20th of
February, 1845. Katherine having died in 1845, Anson then married Frances Elizabeth, the daughter of Major-General James
Manson on the 12th of December, 1850. They were to have seven children together. In 1896, Anson’s fourth son, Rev. Harcourt
S. Anson, edited the letters his father had written to his mother during the Indian Mutiny. They were published by W. H. Allen
& Co. of London under the title: With H.M. 9th Lancers During the Indian Mutiny.
Provenance: Anson’s medals were previously listed for sale in the March, 1984 Medal List of York Coin and Stamp Centre. They
formed part of the collection of Gordon Everson and were sold as lot 22 in the Dix Noonan Webb auction of the 28th of March,
2002.
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