Statuette of the Assaye Elephant, 1947 (c)

Silver plated solid brass figure of an elephant with cast applied tusks, unmarked, standing on an ebonised wood plinth with silver label. 1947 (c).

The inscription on the plinth label records the presentation of the statuette to General Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck (1884-1981) by, 'The Boy Trainees of his Late Regiment'.

Auchinleck, the last Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, served with the 62nd Punjabis before and during World War One. The battle honour, 'Assaye', inscribed on the base, relates to the battle fought by the 62nd's antecedent regiment during the 2nd Maratha War in 1803. The 62nd Punjabis became part of the 1st Punjab Regiment in 1922. Auchinleck became Colonel of the Regiment in 1947.

Despite his dislike of the post-war partition of India, Auchinleck helped prepare the Indian Army for its division into the armies of Pakistan and India. He left India in 1948.