The campaign pair awarded to Colonel M. C. B. Forestier-Walker, King's Royal Rifle Corps,...

The campaign pair awarded to Colonel M. C. B. Forestier-Walker, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who commanded the troops on board the ill-fated Warren Hastings when wrecked on the Ile de Réunion on 14 January 1897 India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Lushai 1889-92 (Major M. C. B. F. Walker 4th Bn. K. Rl. Rif. Corps.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Ltt. Col: M. C. B. F. Walker 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps.) nearly extremely fine £2,000-£2,400 --- Montagu Charles Brudenell Forrestier-Walker was born on 7 August 1853, and received his first commission in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as Sub-Lieutenant on 6 March 1872; Lieutenant, 6 March 1872; Adjutant 4th Battalion from 29 March 1877 to 31 October 1880; Captain, 10 February 1881; Major, 1 July 1885; Lieutenant-Colonel to command 1st Battalion, 1 July 1895; Brevet Colonel, 13 March 1897. He served in the Bechuanaland Expedition 1884-85 as Extra A.D.C. to the G.O.C. and acted as Assistant Military Secretary. He was honourably mentioned for Burma 1891-92, taking part in the Chin Hills as Intelligence Officer with the Lushai Column (Medal with clasp). Took part in the operations in Chitral 1895, with the relief force (Medal with clasp). On 12 December 1896, the 1st Battalion K.R.R.C. sailed from Bombay in the R.I.M.S. Warren Hastings commanded by Commander G. E. Holland, D.S.O., Royal Indian Marine. Colonel Forestier-Walker was in command of the troops aboard the ship, including his own 526 strong battalion. Arriving at Cape Town on 29 December, four companies of the K.R.R.C. disembarked and proceeded to Wynberg. Meanwhile a half-battalion of the 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment, and some details of the Middlesex Regiment, embarked. The ship left Cape Town on 6 January and had a good passage until the morning of the 13th, when the glass fell and the wind shifted to the south. On 14 January, the Warren Hastings, eight miles off course, steaming at full speed, in pitch darkness and pouring rain, ran straight into rocks on the coastline of Réunion Island. Lieutenant-Colonel Forestier-Walker, the most senior Army officer on board, went to the bridge and asked Captain Holland for orders. As the ship was wedged on rocks, he ordered that evacuation should begin by means of rope ladders over the bows. The captain wanted to keep the women and children on board until daylight, but when the ship began listing, the women, children and sick were helped off the boat. The evacuation continued in an orderly manner, despite complete darkness, until the ship listed further and the last of those on board swam ashore or were aided by ropes. Two soldiers sadly died during the evacuation, but the “remarkable courage and exemplary discipline” displayed by all the troops was considered to have averted a much greater disaster. Lt Col Forestier-Walker was the last soldier to leave the ship. Upon learning of the incident, Queen Victoria cabled Forestier-Walker to express her great satisfaction with the admirable discipline shown by the troops under his command, and stated her regret at the loss of private property sustained by all ranks. Forestier-Walker was appointed Adjutant-General to the Force in Egypt in December 1898 and tragically met his death by an accident on the railway at Helouan, in Egypt, on 31 July 1902. For the medals awarded to Commander G. E. Holland, D.S.O., Royal Indian Marine, see Lot 65.