Major Charles Griffiths, 37th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, 1842

Coloured lithograph after Lieutenant Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, 1842 (c).

Charles Griffiths (1793-1872) was posted as a cadet to the 9th Bengal Native Infantry in 1810 and three years later joined the 18th Bengal Native Infantry as ensign. Promoted to lieutenant in 1815, the following year he served in the Gurkha (Nepal) War (1814-1816). Engaged in regimental duties from 1818 until 1825, Griffiths was promoted to captain in 1826 and transferred to the 37th Bengal Native Infantry. He then took part in the siege and capture of Bhurtpore (1826). During the 1st Afghan War (1839-1842) he commanded a storming party in the attack on the fort at Mohd and saw action at Sharif in November 1841. On 13 January 1842 Major Griffiths was taken hostage when he tried to negotiate a truce with the Afghans as the survivors of the retreat from Kabul approached Gandamak. He was released on 21 September 1842. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel with the 46th Bengal Native Infantry in March 1845, Griffiths retired from the service in 1851.

From 'Portraits of the Kabul Prisoners', a set of pre-publication coloured lithographs later published by John Murray in 1843.

The artist's original drawings were made during his captivity in Afghanistan after the Retreat from Kabul during the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842).