Panel length: 21mm
15 carat gold mourning cufflinks, with oval panels alternately engraved 'Lord Clyde / died / 14th August / 1863’ and with ‘CC’ interlaced for Colin Campbell beneath a baron’s coronet; each cufflink with one hinged compartment opening to reveal a portrait photograph of Lord Clyde and a lock of hair, both behind glass.
Field Marshal Sir Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde (1792-1863) was one of 19th century’s greatest soldiers. Born to a Glasgow cabinet maker John Macliver, he took his deceased mother’s surname at military academy. Commissioned in the 9th Foot, he first saw action as a 16 year-old ensign in Wellington’s Peninsular army, fighting at Vimiero (1808), Corunna (1809), Barrosa (1811), and leading the forlorn hope at San Sebastián (1813). He was promoted rapidly for conspicuous gallantry and professional competence.
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Later he went to Gibraltar and British Guiana and in 1841 served in China. He took part in the Anglo-Sikh war and gained valuable experience of India (1846-53). Promoted Colonel in 1854, he commanded the Highland Brigade (with whom he was exceptionally popular) at the Battle of the Alma and at Balaklava, where his 93rd Highland Brigade was described in the press as the ‘thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ - giving rise to the immortal phrase ‘the thin red line’. He afterwards commanded the First Division in the Crimea with the rank of Major-General. However he became best known as the Commander-in-Chief in India who succeeded in putting down the Great Indian Rebellion of 1857. He had the reputation of being cautious in risking the lives of his troops, and although this endeared them to him, it led sometimes to unnecessary delays in achieving victory, notably in the final relief and capture of Lucknow.
The present cufflinks are reputed to have belonged to Scottish surgeon present during the protracted defence of the Lucknow Residency. Colin Campbell is buried in the centre aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey, beneath a red marble gravestone inscribed:
‘Beneath this stone rest the remains of Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde, who by his own deserts through fifty years of arduous service from the earliest battles in the Peninsula war to the pacification of India in 1858 rose to the rank of Field Marshal and the peerage. He died lamented by the Queen, the Army and the People Aug. 14 1863 in the 71st year of his age.’