NAM.1951-07-3-1

Blue woollen cloth Guernsey smock issued for the cold weather in the Persian Campaign, 1857. This rare garment was worn by Cornet Charles Combe, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, on campaign in Persia. At the battle of Koosh-ab, Combe participated in the cavalry charge which broke a Persian infantry square, for which action he was recommended for the Victoria Cross. During the charge his smock was carried over his knees and his saddle holsters, and three musket balls lodged in it. The smock clearly shows the holes from the musket balls, as well as stains from the blood of Combe’s horse, which suffered five wounds but survived the battle and was re-named ‘Khushab’ in honour of the battle. A letter from Combe written after the battle states: ‘...my horse was wounded in five places, and we lost two men killed and ten wounded. I had a very narrow escape, three balls lodging in a “guernsey” that I carried over my holsters’. Some years later, another officer present at the battle recalled: ‘I well remember young Combe, he was quite a lad, coming out of the melee, covered with blood, his guernsey, which he had taken off and thrown across his knees, riddled with shot, his horse bleeding profusely from several shot holes through the neck and great gashes in its sides, and reins cut and hanging down. He got off the horse, handed it to one of his men and, getting hold of a riderless trooper [horse], he mounted (heartily cheered by everyone) and galloped off to rejoin his men’. Associated with the Battle of Koosh-ab, Persian War 1856-1857.

Koosh-ab, Battle of, 1858 (Persian War 1856-1857)