Overall: 27cm (10.75in) x 20.5cm (10.5in)
Watercolour and gold leaf on vellum. Armorial achievement of Sir Henry Worsley being the family arms and crest of ancient Hampshire family of Worsley (Argent a chevron sable between three falcons of the second); crest (A wolf’s head erased) and family motto: ‘Up Subsume Desuper’ (I swoop down to soar again) augmented with supporters in the form of two Sepoys of the 15th Bengal Native Infantry which Henry Worsley commanded in the Second Mahratta War (1803-05) under the walls of Agra and in the Battle of Delhi; together with the insignia, motto ‘Tria Juncta In Uno’ (Three joined in one) and open forward-facing helm of a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB). Contained in period maple frame.
The present armorial is reminiscent of those painted on vellum that were sent to China in the 18th century with orders for Chinese export armorial porcelain. For many Directors and senior officers of the East India Company armorial porcelain was the fashionable status symbol that reflected the highly profitable Company controlled trade with China. Equally, this armorial might have served as the for the brass stall plate in the Bath Chapel in Westminster Abbey to which Sir Henry as a GCB was entitled.
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Major-General Sir Henry Worsley, GCB (1768-1841) was born at Appuldurcombe House, IOW, and went to India as a fourteen year-old East India Company Bengal infantry cadet, and in January 1781. En route to Bengal he was landed in Madras and helped defend Fort St. George during a siege by Haidar Ali of Mysore. After reaching in Bengal in April, he was posted up country to the 2nd European Regiment at Cawnpore. In 1782, he served with the 30th regiment of sepoys in capturing forts near Benares. The next year, he became an Adjutant and fought with his regiment against rebels in the Káimur Hills.
In 1785, his regiment was disbanded due to peace with Mysore. In early 1789, he went to Sumatra with a group of volunteer sepoys, earning the praise of Lord Cornwallis. Later, in 1791, Worsley volunteered for the active service in the Second Mysore War (1790-92). He joined the 7th battalion Bengal Sepoys. He took part in a night attack on Tipú's camp near Seringapatam on 6 February 1792. He also participated in other actions against the town.
He was promoted to captain-lieutenant and then captain in November 1798 while on leave to Europe. He joined the 15th Native Infantry in 1801 and subsequently commanded it in the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805). On 4 September 1803, he fought at Alígarh. On September 11, he commanded his battalion at the Battle of Delhi. On 10 October, he again led his battalion in the attack near Agra. He received thanks from the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Lake. He also led his battalion at the Battle of Laswari on 1 November 1803 in what proved a pivotal conflict in the context of British expansion in India and the geopolitical tensions involving Napoleon I's influence.
Worsley then commanded a field force that successfully cleared Yashwantrao Holkar's Maratha troops from the Doáb region. He then took control of Muttra city. There, he protected the communication lines for Lake's army. He even built a bridge of boats over the Jumna River at Muttra. This bridge was very helpful to the British forces. Lord Lake was impressed and greatly valued Worsley's work. He helped Worsley become the Deputy Adjutant-General. In early 1806, Worsley advanced to Adjutant-General with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. However, in early 1810, he had to resign due to failing health. In 1811, he went to Europe
In 1813, he accepted a job as private secretary to the Governor-General, Francis Rawdon Hastings. But health problems forced him to resign again. In 1818, he returned to India. The governor-general immediately made him military secretary. But once more, his health issues made him resign. He tried active service with his corps, hoping it would help his health but he finally returned to England 1819. Worsley became a major-general in retirement in 1830.