Part 9

=French or St. Helena Medal.=--It was not until August 12th, 1857, that the survivors of that magnificent army of Frenchmen who followed _le petit Caporal_ in his campaigns from 1792 to 1815 received a medal commemorative of their devotion and gallantry. It was due to the Emperor Napoleon III that the old military and naval warriors received, what their great General and Emperor would wish for them, "marks of merit." The St. Helena medal is oval and of bronze, 1⅕ in. across. On the obverse is a beaded circle within laurel leaves, which frame the whole medal (see facing page 64), the laureated head of Napoleon facing to the right with the legend NAPOLEON I EMPEREUR. On the reverse, within a beaded circle, is the inscription A SES COMPAGNONS DE GLOIRE SA DERNIERE PENSEE STE. HELENE 5 MAI 1821 (To his companions in glory his last thought St. Helena 5 May 1821), and around CAMPAGNES DE 1792 A 1815, with a small five-pointed star beneath. As part of the medal, but standing above the oval, is the French Imperial Crown, through the terminal of which a ring runs for suspension from a green ribbon, 1½ in. wide, with narrow stripes of red.

NEPAUL

While the attention of Britain was necessarily riveted upon the Peninsula, both East and West, as we have seen, compelled her to keep the torch of battle burning, and I must therefore mention the campaign in Nepaul, for which the Honourable East India Company awarded a special medal. The order dated Fort William, March 20th, 1816, stated that the Government had decided to present silver medals to every native officer who had served within the hills, and to as many non-commissioned officers and privates as might be recommended for distinguished zeal or gallantry. The campaign was brought about owing to the Goorka tribes having adopted an aggressive policy, and refusing to vacate the districts of Bootwal and Sheoraj belonging to the H.E.I. Co., that had to be retaken by an armed force, and by an attack upon the British outposts at Rourah, which had been left in possession when the rainy season commenced. The operations, which followed the declaration of war made on November 1st, 1814, covered a frontier stretching 600 miles. In the early part of the campaign General Gillespie was killed while leading a body of 100 dismounted men of the 8th Dragoons against the small but well-defended fort of Kalunga. The back of the war was broken when, in March 1815, General Sir David Ochterlony resisted a furious assault of the Gōrkālis for two hours and then, boldly charging, forced them to fly in confusion. For his brilliant services General Ochterlony was made G.C.B., the first officer in the Indian Army to receive the honour. Ummur Singh, Rajah of Nepaul, after the surrender of his officers and men was compelled to submit, but a year elapsed before the treaty was ratified at Fort William. The regiments occupied in the campaign were: H.M.'s 14th (the 14th did not, however, receive the medal, as they had not served in the field), 17th, 24th, 66th, a wing of the 67th, and 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers; a detachment of the 8th Light Dragoons, and the 20th and 25th Native Infantry.

=The H.E.I. Co.'s Nepaul Medal.=--The medal awarded by the Honourable East India Company was silver, 1¹⁹⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, and given to all ranks. On the obverse troops with fixed bayonets and colours flying are represented marching through a hilly country, the heights crowned with forts and stockades; in the foreground to the left is a field gun. On the reverse is a Persian inscription, "This medal is conferred by the Nawab Governor-General Bahadar in testimony of the energy, good service, skill, and intrepidity displayed during the campaign in the hills, in the years of the Hegira 1229 and 1230." It was worn suspended from a yellow silk cord, and, as it was only given to native soldiers for particularly distinguished conduct, is very uncommon.

When the "Army of India" medal was issued in 1851, those native 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.]