Beschreibung:

The excessively rare Royal Humane Society Medal in silver-gilt awarded to Brevet Major Charles Craufurd Fraser, 7th Hussars, who, despite being wounded, effected the rescue of an officer and several men of his regiment who were in imminent danger of being drowned in the River Raptee, 31 December 1858 - for this gallant action he was awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Royal Humane Society Medal Royal Humane Society, large silver-gilt medal (successful), reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. & Brevet Major Chas. Craufurd Fraser 7th Hussars. Vit ob Serv. D.D. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 31. Decr. 1858’, fitted with a swivel ring and straight bar suspension, with silver-gilt buckle on ribbon, the medal contained in its modified Warrington, London case of issue, edge bruising, good very fine £4000-5000 Footnote V.C. London Gazette 8 November 1860. ‘For conspicuous and cool gallantry, on the 31st December, 1858, in having volunteered, at great personal risk, and under sharp fire of musketry, to swim to the rescue of Captain Stisted, and some men of the 7th Hussars, who were in imminent danger of being drowned in the River Raptee, while in pursuit of the rebels. Major Fraser succeeded in this gallant service, although at the time partially disabled, not having recovered from a severe wound received while leading a Squadron in a charge against some fanatics, in the Action of Nawabgunge, on the 13th June, 1858.’ Further details are given in the citation appearing in Acts of Gallantry, by Lambton Young: ‘During the battle of Raptee, on the 31st of December, 1858, on the frontiers of Nepaul, Major Stisted and four men of the 7th Hussars were washed on to a sandbank in the middle of the foaming torrent, and as their horses had been drowned, there seemed no chance of their lives being saved, when the Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the 7th Hussars, Sir W. Russell, Bart., called for a volunteer to swim out to them. Major Charles Craufurd Fraser begged to be allowed to go, and he swam out to them under a sharp fire from the enemy, who were on the opposite side, and after great difficulty, owing to the rapidity of the stream, he reached them. They were quite exhausted, but he succeeded in saving the lives of Major Stisted and the men with him. It was a most dangerous service, and was most gallantly performed by him, when we call to mind that Major Fraser at the time had only a partial use of his right hand, owing to a severe wound which he had received at the battle of Nawabgunge, and from which he had not nearly recovered.’ Charles Craufurd Fraser was born in Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, on 31 August 1829, the second of three sons of Sir James John Fraser (1789-1834), 3rd Baronet of Leadclune and Morar, Inverness, and his wife, Charlotte Anne (née Craufurd). He was baptised on 15 October 1829 in St. Peter’s Church, Dublin and was re-baptised on 13 October 1832 in Hampreston, Dorset. He was educated at Eton College, Windsor. When he was 18 years of age he purchased a commission of Cornet in the 7th Hussars on 3 December 1847. He subsequently gained the rank of Lieutenant by purchase in June 1850 and Captain by purchase in April 1854. With his regiment he served in India from 29 August 1857. On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, Fraser served as Orderly-Officer to Brigadier-General Colin Campbell at the affair at Munseata, near Allahabad, 5 January 1858. Subsequently he served with his regiment at Meeangunge, the siege and capture of Lucknow, the affairs at Baree and Sirsee and the action at Nawabgunge, 13 June 1858. It was here that he was severely wounded while leading his squadron against Gazzie fanatics. He was mentioned in Sir Hope Grant’s despatch for ‘most conspicuous gallantry’ and was promoted to Brevet Major. Fraser’s wounds kept him out of action for a few months. By December 1858 he was back in action and served until March 1859 in the Trans-Gogra Campaign of General Sir Hope Grant, in the pursuit of the rebel Nana Sahib. This included the affair at C