NAM.1950-11-55-9

Lt H B Melville, 54th N I. From folio of 29 coloured lithographs by and after Lt Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, (to be) published by John Murray, 1843. Officers, ladies, and scenes in Afghanistan, 1842. From drawings made during the artist’s capture in Afghanistan; some with notes for printing; in green leather bound album. Lt H B Melville, 54th Bengal Native Infantry, seated in Afghan dress. Associated with the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). Henry Beresford Melville was appointed an ensign in the 54th Bengal Native Infantry in 1837. Promoted to lieutenant in 1840, he took part in the 1st Afghan War (1839-1842) and was taken hostage by Akbar Khan following the uprising of November 1841. Melville was released in September 1842 when Major-General Sir George Pollock’s Army of Retribution arrived in Kabul. Promoted to captain in 1843, he was invalided back to England in 1851 where he died four years later.

Kabul, Retreat from, 1842 (1st Afghan War 1838-1842)