soldiers who had not received the H.E.I. Co.'s medal were granted
the new medal, with bar for NEPAUL (see facing page 56). The British
regiments entitled to the medal with this bar were the 8th Light
Dragoons; 17th, 24th, 26th, 66th, one wing of the 67th, 87th Regiments,
and 20th and 25th Native Infantry. On November 5th, 1817, the Peishwa,
Bajee Rao, who had again given evidence of his treachery, was defeated
at the village of Kirkee by Lieutenant-Colonel Burr of the 7th Bombay
Native Infantry, with the 65th Foot and a native force consisting
of the 2nd, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, and 23rd Bombay Native Infantry;
Bombay Artillery, Field and Horse, and Pioneers; the Bombay Fusiliers
(now 2nd Batt. Dublin Fusiliers); and Poona Horse. On November 17th
Colonel Burr, together with Brigadier-General Lionel Smith commanding
H.M.'s 65th British Regiment and the 2nd Grenadier Regiment of
Native Infantry, captured the town of Poona. On the 26th of the same
month a force under Lieutenant-Colonel Hopetoun Stratford Scott and
Brigadier-General Doveton captured the camp of the Rajah of Berar, Apa
Sahib, at Seetabuldee (£79 has been paid for a medal with the single
bar for this engagement), outside the city of Nagpore, which, after
a desperate defence by its garrison of 5,000 men, surrendered on New
Year's day, 1818. Although eight companies of the Royal Scots were
present at the battle of Seetabuldee, they were not awarded the bar
for same when the Army of India medal was distributed. They were also
present at the capture of Nagpore (400 medals were issued to officers
and men, and 43 to Europeans in the H.E.I. Co.'s service) with the
following native regiments: 1st, 2nd, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, 28th,
29th Madras Infantry and 6th Bengal Light Cavalry and 6th Madras
Cavalry.
=Maheidpore.=--At Maheidpore, on December 21st, 1817,
Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop defeated the Pindarees under the
Mahratta Rajah, Mulhar Rao Holkar. The British troops present were
two flank companies of the 1st or Royal Scots (12 medals only with
this bar were presented to officers and men of this regiment), who
were specially mentioned in the Commander-in-Chief's orders, and one
squadron of the 22nd Light Dragoons. Only 26 clasps for this battle
were issued to survivors of the 22nd. The native troops comprised 3rd,
14th, 27th, 28th, and 31st Madras Infantry; 1st Madras Fusiliers; 3rd
and 4th Madras Light Cavalry.
[Illustration: MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839.
Awarded to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Auckland, G.C.B., P.C., Late
Governor-General of India.]
[Illustration: MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839.]
=Corygaum.=--On January 1st, 1818, the village of Corygaum was most
gallantly defended against the whole force of the Peishwa, and when
the "Army of India" medal was issued the surviving soldiers of the 2nd
Bombay Native Infantry and 2nd Poona Horse were given the medal, with
bar for the defence. Dr. Payne had in his collection a medal awarded to
G. Bainbridge of the 65th Foot, with the bar for POONA AND CORYGAUM,
which, according to the medal roll, was inaccurate, but it appeared
that the man was actually entitled to this rare distinction.
=Rare Medals.=--Ten medals only were issued with bars for POONA and
CORYGAUM. For the latter battle only 8 medals were issued. Only 20 with
the single bar for SEETABULDEE AND NAGPORE were issued to Europeans
and 194 to natives. For KIRKEE AND POONA AND CORYGAUM 73 medals were
issued. 16 medals with the bar for KIRKEE AND POONA were issued to
officers and men of the 65th Regiment and 44 officers and men of the
same regiment had the single bar for POONA. Medals with the bars for
AVA and BHURTPOOR are rarely met with, or those for CHRYSTLER'S FARM
and AVA to the 89th.
=Ceylon, 1818.=--In 1819 the Government of Ceylon issued a medal, 1½
in. in diameter, in connection with the Kandian rebellion of 1818. It
bears on the obverse a wreath of bay and oak leaves, encircling CEYLON
1818, and on the reverse REWARD OF MERIT, the name of the recipient
being engraved in the centre. A blue ribbon was used for suspension.
Four men only of the 73rd Perthshire Regiment, two men of the 2nd and
39 of the 1st Ceylon Regiments were awarded the medal.
FIRST BURMESE WAR
In 1824 war was declared against Burmah, and the campaign opened by
Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell taking possession of Rangoon
on May 12th, and the capture by storm of Cheduba on May 17th, 1824. A
series of assaults was made by the British, and feeble attacks by the
Burmese, before Maha Bandoola, a veteran of considerable force and
ability--having provided himself with gold fetters with which to bind
Lord Amherst when he was captured--took command of a force of about
50,000 infantry and horsemen, with 300 pieces of artillery, and began
to entrench himself in front of the British position. On December 1st
Major (afterwards Sir Robert) Sale--who gallantly defended Jellalabad
and was killed at Moodkee, December 1845--making a daring and vigorous
attack upon the left of his line with 450 men of the 13th Light
Infantry and 18th Native Infantry, compelled the Burmese to fly. On
December 5th another effort was made against the left wing, and 240
guns were captured; this success was followed, on December 7th, by a
determined assault upon the trenches, which resulted in the rout of
Bandoola's army with the loss of 5,000 men. With indomitable pluck the
Burmese general rallied his army and entrenched himself again; but
when the assault was made, upon the 15th, by the British, the Burmese
were forced from their position and put to rout in fifteen minutes.
In the meantime Brigadier General Morrison, with a force of about
11,000, had moved forward across the mountains into Ava, and on April
1st Arracan was captured, and the Burmese retreated to Donabu, where
on the Irrawady, behind a strong teak stockade a mile long, backed by
an old brick rampart upon which 150 guns were mounted, they defied a
marine attack, and the British had to retire down the river, leaving
their wounded to the fiendish treatment of their enemies. On the next
day, however, Sir Archibald Campbell gained possession of Donabu, for
Maha Bandoola having been killed the troops lost confidence in their
other leaders, and they evacuated the place at night. After a period
of inaction at Prome, necessitated by the season, hostilities were
resumed in November, and a series of conflicts took place until after
the evacuation of Meeaday, when the Burmese again made overtures for
peace. On January 19th, 1825, hostilities were resumed, and the British
army advanced upon the Burmese capital. In the advance the battle of
Melloon was fought, and a new Burmese General took command of an army
of 40,000 men. Nee Woon Breen, "King of Hell" or "Prince of Darkness"
as he was called, was, however, defeated by the British near Pagahm
Mew on February 9th, and fled to Ava, to meet a cruel death by order
of his King. Following up this success, the British marched upon the
old capital Amarapura, but when within four days' march of the city the
King accepted the British terms, and the treaty of peace was signed at
Yandaboo on February 24th, 1826. By this treaty Arracan, Mergui, Tavoy,
Tenasserim, and Yé were ceded, and became part of the Indian Empire.
3,222 European soldiers and 1,766 sepoys fell in the war.
The following regiments were engaged in this campaign, and those
marked * were mentioned in general orders with sentiments of unfeigned
admiration: 1st,* 13th,* 38th,* 41st,* 44th, 45th,* 47th, 54th,
87th,* and 89th,* also 14th Madras Native Infantry, Madras Fusiliers
(European, now 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers), and 1st Madras Cavalry,
Bengal and Madras Artillery (European).
=The Ava Medal.=--By a General Order, dated "Fort William, April
22nd, 1826," a medal was bestowed upon the native troops engaged in
the war between 1824-26. The medal, 1½ in. in diameter, was struck in
gold for the officers (Sir Archibald Campbell was the only British
officer to receive one) and in silver for the men: it was attached to
a large steel clip and ring for suspension from a crimson ribbon with
blue edges, 1½ in. wide. On the obverse is the White Elephant of Ava
crouching before the British Lion; behind the Lion is the Union Jack
unfurled, and behind the Elephant the Burmese colours submissively
lowered; in the background are palm trees. The exergue is occupied by
a Persian inscription, "The Elephant of Ava is obedient to the Lion
of England, Year 1826." In the left upper corner of the exergue is
the designer's name, W. DANIELL, RA. DEL. On the reverse is depicted
a storming party advancing against the Great Pagoda of Rangoon, which
is surrounded by stockades; to the left is the Irrawady flotilla of
gunboats and the "Diana"; In the foreground is depicted Sir Archibald
Campbell directing operations from the shade of a palm tree. In the
exergue is the Persian inscription, "A medal for the victorious
British soldiers on Ava" (on Ava territory). In the left upper corner
of the exergue is W. Wyon. Although 750 gold medals were struck for
distribution among native officers and civil dignitaries, and over
24,200 silver medals were issued, they are very rare. It is noteworthy,
as Dr. Payne points out, that in connection with the issue of this
medal it was the first time a ribbon was mentioned for use with an
Indian medal. It was ordered to be worn perfectly square upon the
centre of the left breast, the upper edge of the ribbon being even with
the button for ranks wearing sword-belts only, and even with the second
button for ranks wearing cross-belts. A bar for AVA was issued with the
"Army of India" medal in 1851.
=Burmese Chiefs' Medal.=--The H.E.I. Co. had a medal, 2³⁄₂₀ in. in
diameter, struck in gold for presentation to six Talaing chiefs who
served with the British army during 1825-26. On the obverse are the
arms and motto of the East India College; above is a scroll with "Award
of Merit," and underneath a scroll to take the name of recipient. On
the reverse in the foreground are two steamers by a river-side, and two
soldiers, one bearing a flag, addressing a group of Burmese; in the
background are hills, a pagoda, and a palm tree, and behind all the
setting sun. To the right are a cannon and bungalow. The medal has a
loop for suspension, composed of two plates held together by means of a
gold bezel.
=Bhurtpore.=[5]--Owing to the assumption of sovereign power by Doorjun
Sal, the nephew of the deceased Rajah of Bhurtpore, Baldeo Singh, it
became necessary for the Indian Government to take steps to ensure the
succession of the dead ruler's young son, Bhulwunt Singh. An army under
Lord Combermere was dispatched to lay siege to the city of Bhurtpore,
which with its 5 miles of fortifications, as already described, was
able to withstand the four assaults made by General Lake's army twenty
years before. On December 10th, 1825, the British army of just over
25,000 men appeared before the city, and prepared to lay siege to
the fortress, which was garrisoned by about 25,000. On December 24th
the artillery began to fire on the city, but despite the continual
bombardment, so well had the walls been built that breaches could not
be made large enough to admit of stormers. Mining, therefore, was
resorted to, and by the morning of January 18th, 1826, a determined
assault was made, and within two hours the British had gained
possession of the ramparts; by 4 o'clock the citadel surrendered, and
the 14th, as a reward for their gallantry, placed to garrison it.
The impregnable city, the capital of the Jants, had fallen after a
twenty-six days' siege; Doorjun Sal was captured, spoil to the value
of £500,000 taken, the young Rajah placed upon the throne, and the
conquest of India confirmed by the success of Lord Combermere, who was
rewarded with a Viscountcy. Hand grenades were last used in India at
the siege of Bhurtpore. One hundred and eighty of the British troops
were killed and 780 wounded. The following regiments took part in the
siege: 14th and 59th Regiments, 11th Light Dragoons, and 16th Lancers
(who had only just been armed with the lance). The Native Regiments
included: 11th, 15th, 21st, 23rd, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 37th, 41st, 63rd,
and 66th Bengal Light Infantry; Simoor Rifles; 1st Bengal Cavalry; 6th
Light Cavalry and one wing of the Bengal Fusiliers (Europeans), now 1st
Royal Munster Fusiliers; Bengal Horse and Foot Artillery and Bengal
Engineers. The 14th, "The Old and Bold," were specially mentioned in
dispatches.
[5] This is spelt BHURTPOOR on the bar of the "Army of India" medal.
=Coorg, 1837.=--For suppressing the insurrection in Canara in 1837
the Coorg soldiers were, on the recommendation of the Commissioner,
Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Cubbon, awarded a medal as a recognition of
their noble conduct and courage. The medals of gold and silver were
1¹⁹⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, and of varying thicknesses according to value.
They were worn suspended from the neck by chains by the superiors who
received them; 20 gold medals and 200 silver medals given to junior
officers and ryots were presented without chains. Two gold medals
valued at 400 rupees, and 12 valued at 200 rupees, were bestowed with
chains. On the obverse is a Coorg warrior in fighting attitude, his
upraised right hand grasping a Coorg knife ready to strike, and in
his left a matchlock; round the face of the medal is the inscription
in Carnese, "For a memorial of Fidelity to the Government of the East
India Company in suppressing rebellion in the months of April and May
1837"; on the reverse a trophy of Coorg arms and ornaments within a
laurel wreath, surmounted by the inscription, for DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT
AND LOYALTY TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, and in the EXERGUE COORG APRIL
1837.
FIRST AFGHAN WAR
The Shah of Persia, having laid claim to a considerable portion of
Afghanistan after Shah Shoojah had been driven from his throne and his
kingdom divided among a number of chieftains, sent an army to besiege
Herat. The Indian Government then decided to effect the restoration
of Shah Shoojah, and sent forward the "army of the Indus" under the
command of Sir John (afterwards Lord) Keane. The Persians had meanwhile
raised the siege of Herat, and retired toward their capital. Fighting
their way against almost insuperable obstacles, short of food for man
and beast, the divisions of the British army pushed their way through
to Candahar, which they reached on April 27th, 1839. In the meantime
Hyderabad had been captured, the Ameers of Scinde compelled to submit,
the erstwhile rulers of Afghanistan forced from their thrones, and the
deposed ruler restored, but considerable fighting had to be done ere he
could settle down peaceably, and several important battles were fought.
=Ghuznee, 1839.=--The army of the Indus left Candahar at the end of
June 1839, and arrived before Ghuznee, which Prince Mahomed Hyder
Khan had strongly fortified; leaving only one gate unblocked by
masonry. He had with him a garrison of 3,000 Afghans. As the British
force possessed no means of breaching the walls, it was determined
to take the place by storm, and in order to effect this the gate was
blown in by the 13th (now Somerset Light Infantry), and the troops
entered the fort, only 5 men being killed, and 6 officers (including
Brigadier-General Sale, severely) and 63 men wounded out of Her
Majesty's Regiments. On the fall of the fortress the Afghan cavalry
outside fled in the direction of Cabul, the British forces following.
At Ughundee Dost Mahomed Khan had resolved to try conclusions, but
dissatisfied with the morale of his troops he decamped, and on August
7th Shah Shooja regained his throne, which, however, he did little to
strengthen. The British losses were 18 men and 20 officers killed, and
153 men wounded. The force engaged in this comparatively bloodless
campaign was composed of 8 companies of Her Majesty's 2nd (Queen's
Royal); 13th Light Infantry; 17th (Leicestershire); two squadrons
4th Light Dragoons; 16th Lancers; and the following regiments of the
H.E.I. Co.'s army: 1st Bengal Fusiliers (Europeans); Bengal Sappers and
Miners; 1st Bombay Light Cavalry; 2nd and 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry; 2nd
Skinner's Horse; 300 Poona Horse; Bengal Horse and Foot Artillery; two
troops Bombay Horse Artillery; Bombay Foot Artillery; 16th, 19th, 35th,
and 48th Native Infantry.
=Order of Dooranée.=--To reward the British officers who had been
instrumental in restoring him to his throne, Shah Shooja instituted
the Order of the Dooranée Empire, the first installation taking place
at Cabul on September 13th, 1839, when Sir John Keane, the commander
of the British army, received the First-Class Order from the Shah.
There are three classes of the Order, which is not unlike the Guelphic
Order of Hanover. Three of the first class, nineteen of the second, and
thirty-six of the third were to be presented. The badge consists of a
gold Maltese cross, the borders of which are raised, with eight points
terminating in gold beads, resting upon two crossed swords. On a blue
and green enamelled ground, which forms the centre, are two sentences
in Persian characters; above "Authority is from God alone," and below
"Every brave man recognises his sway." This translation, as Dr. Payne
states, is very different from the usual one of Duri-i-Dauran, "Pearl
of the Age." The enamelled centre is surrounded by a circle of pearls.
The star is of cut silver shaped like a Maltese cross, overlaid with
a smaller one of gold, in the centre of which is the same decoration
as on the badge, except that a diamond is set in each arm of the gold
cross, and the enamelled circle is surrounded by seventeen pearls. The
star of the second class has rays between the arms, and the small gold
cross which rests upon it has crossed swords between the arms; the
centre is enamelled with a green flower on a blue ground, surrounded by
eighteen pearls set in a gold band. The badge of the second class has
twenty pearls set round the centre, and on the reverse a red enamelled
centre circled by a green enamelled border decorated with gold tracery.
The third-class badge has only fourteen pearls. The badges of each
class were suspended from a half red and green ribbon, like that used
for the Ghuznee medal.
[Illustration: MEDAL FOR KELAT-I-GHILZI, 1842.
Awarded to Major Robert Leech, C.B., who had also the medal for
Candahar, Ghuznee, and Cabul, 1842, and the Order of the Dooranée
Empire (3rd Class).]
[Illustration: FIRST JELLALABAD MEDAL, 1842.
Awarded to Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Peter R. Jennings, 13th
Foot.]
=Ghuznee Medal, 1839.=--Shah Shoojah had also determined to decorate
the ordinary soldiers who had taken part in the campaign, but
his assassination prevented the realisation of his desire, and
subsequently--November 23rd, 1842--the Governor-General decided that
the medals which had been struck at Calcutta in commemoration of the
capture of Ghuznee should be given to the officers and men who had
participated in the capture. This, the first Indian medal to be issued
with a bar for suspension, is of silver, and, with the exception of
the medal for Seringapatam, the first to be given to all the troops
engaged, the previous medals having been bestowed upon native troops
only. It is 1½ in. in diameter, with broad flat edge, bearing on the
obverse a view of the gateway of the citadel, with GHUZNEE on an
ornamental panel underneath, running with the lines of the medal.
On the reverse, within a laurel wreath, a mural crown above 1839,
and between the terminals of the wreath the date of the capture of
the fortress, 23D. JULY, a space being left in the centre for the
recipient's name, which had to be placed there at his expense. The
medals are occasionally found with the names engraved or impressed upon
the edge. Two dies were used for the obverse, and one has a much wider
border. The medal was originally suspended from a half green and yellow
ribbon, but it was changed to crimson and green 1⅖ in. wide.
=Governor-General's Medal.=--Dr. Payne has kindly enabled me to
reproduce the unique silver medal presented to the Right Honourable the
Earl of Auckland, G.B.C., Governor-General of India and Governor of
the Presidency of Fort William. The medal is 1⅗ in. wide, has no bar
for suspension, and is enamelled. On the obverse is represented the
fortress of Ghuznee--a very different rendering to that on the medal
just referred to--with the victorious army marching through the gate.
On the reverse is the inscription AFGHANISTAN-GHUZNEE--23ʳ·ᵈ· JULY
1839. This striking is the only one known to exist. (See facing page
88.)
FIRST CHINESE WAR, 1842
The extension of British commerce caused the first Chinese war. The
Government not only loathed the "Fan Kwei," or "foreign devils," but
objected to the use of opium which the merchants sold. The destruction
of about £2,000,000 worth of opium by Chinese officials, and the
insult offered to Her Majesty's representative, Captain Elliot,
R.N., led to the declaration of war against China, and a force under
Brigadier-General Burrell was dispatched to China in June 1840, but
following an attack on Ting-hae-hien the Chinese opened negotiations
for peace, and after protracted _pourparlers_ they agreed early in
1841 to pay an indemnity, and to cede the island of Hong Kong. In
accordance with the treaty the island was occupied by the British, but
this was resented by the Chinese, who had determined not to carry out
the terms agreed upon. Hostilities were consequently recommenced, and
an expedition sent up the Canton River, where it quickly dealt with the
batteries at Wantong, landed a body of British and Indian infantry, and
captured considerably over 1,000 Chinese soldiers without losing a man.
Pursuing its way up the river, the expedition imposed severe punishment
upon the different forts, and the Chinese again sued for peace, mainly,
however, for the purpose of gaining time to bring up reinforcements.
The forts at Canton were silenced, and on May 24th, 1841, the British
troops landed and carried the fortified heights, the 18th Royal Irish
and the 49th charging in brilliant style. A flag of truce was hoisted
on May 26th, and as a result of _pourparlers_ £4,250,000 sterling was
agreed to be paid for the evacuation of Canton, which was to be opened
to trade.
The Emperor had no intention of carrying out any such agreement--on the
contrary he issued a mandate for the extermination of the British. As a
result of this flagrant breach of faith, an expedition was sent to the
Island of Amoy, and appeared before the city of Amoy on August 25th.
Two hours' bombardment sufficed to demoralise the garrison, despite
their 500 pieces of cannon, and a force of troops was landed. Chusan
was retaken, the military depot of Chinghai stormed, and the fortified
and important city of Ningpo captured. A determined effort was made on
March 10th, 1842, to retake it, but despite the surprise the enemy was
beaten off. Later the British left Ningpo and again proceeded up-river,
attacking Tsekee on March 15th, capturing the heights of Segon and
forcing the Chankee pass ere returning to Ningpo on March 17th. In May
Ningpo was evacuated, and the fortified city of Chapoo at the mouth of
the Shanghai River attacked and a landing effected. In June Woosung and
Poonshau, and the city of Shangee, were captured, and with the aid of
the 98th Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell (afterwards Lord
Clyde), which now reinforced the expedition, the city of Chin-Kiang
was attacked, and after a severe struggle taken on July 21st, 1842.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh (afterwards Viscount) Gough, whose
decoration from Dr. Payne's collection is used to illustrate the medal
awarded for this campaign, led his army to the ancient capital Nankin,
which was reached on August 9th, 1842. The demonstration sufficed
to bring the enemy to reason, and a treaty of peace was signed, the
indemnity paid, the ports of Amoy, Ningpo, Foo-choo-foo, and Shanghai
opened to British commerce, and Hong Kong ceded to us.
The army of about 3,000 men was composed of the 18th Royal Irish, 26th
Cameronians (which lost nearly 600 men out of 900, by disease, before
Canton fell), 49th, 55th (which particularly distinguished itself at
the assault on the city of Chin-Kiang), 98th, 37th Madras Infantry,
Royal and Indian Artillery, and a Naval Brigade, including marines,
also took a prominent part.