CAPTAIN (LATER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL) E.S. CAPEL, 53RD BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY (1811-1896). Pu

CAPTAIN (LATER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL) E.S. CAPEL, 53RD BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY (1811-1896). Punjab Medal 1848-49, no clasp (officially impressed: CAPTn. E.F. CAPEL. 53rd. BENGAL N.I.). Attractive old dark tone, Extremely Fine.

Also entitled Kabul 1842 Medal.

Medal accompanied by extensive copied research, including extracts from “List of Officers of the Bengal Army”, Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage, East India directories and Army Lists of the period and London Gazette Extracts.

Edward Samuel Capel was the third and youngest son of the Honourable William Robert Capel, fourth son of William, 4th Earl of Essex. Born Watford, 22/4/1811, he was commissioned Ensign, 33rd Bengal Native Infantry, 14/1/1829, posted as Ensign to the 53rd Bengal Native Infantry and 3/6/1829, Lieutenant, 8/10/1836, appointed Adjutant, Calcutta Native Militia, 13/5/1843 to 18/8/1843, and retired from the Bengal Army on 20/4/1855 (promoted Lieutenant-Colonel post-retirement). He saw active service in the First Afghan War, 1842, including the forcing of the Khyber Pass and re-occupation of Kabul (awarded Kabul 1842 Medal) and later as a Lieutenant, 53rd Native Infantry, with General Pollock’s force. He subsequently saw service in the Second Sikh War as a Captain in the 53rd Native Infantry (medal). Lieutenant-Colonel Capel died at Ladies Close, Watford, on 28/5/1896.

Capel is recorded in “Officer Casualties of the Indian Armies 1803-1946” as being a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Bengal Cavalry.