PUNJAB MEDAL

A VERY RARE OFFICERS BATTLE OF CHILIANWALA MEDAL TO AN ENSIGN OF THE 30TH N.I. WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILST SPIKING A SIKH GUN. AT CHILIANWALA THE 30TH N.I. WHO WERE PART OF MOUNTAIN’S BRIGADE CHARGED THE SIKH BATTERIES, SPIKING 10 BEFORE BEING FORCED TO RETREAT, HAVING SUFFERED ENORMOUS LOSSES AND 1 OF THEIR COLOURS. THEIR LOSSES OF 311 OFFICER AND MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED WAS ONLY ECLIPSED BY THOSE OF THE 24TH FOOT AND THE 56TH N.I., THE LATTER ALSO OF MOUNTAIN’S BRIGADE. ONE OF 22 OFFICER KIA MEDALS FOR CHILIANWALA

PUNJAB, 1848-9, CLASP, CHILIANWALA ‘ENSIGN A.C. DE MOREL, 30TH BENGAL N.I.’

“The 30th Native Infantry, though not mentioned in the despatch, behaved most gallantly, they rushed on unchecked at Chillianwala to the very muzzles of the enemy’s guns, and spiked ten of them. They lost a great number killed and wounded. There was only one officer out of the seventeen who went into action untouched, and the next day the colonel, the adjutant, and two subalterns were all that were fit for duty. The officers gave up their mess tent to their wounded men, helped to bring them in on charpais, &c., and nursed them themselves. To make up for the omission, the Commander-in-Chief wrote a public letter, expressing his “grateful acknowledgments to the regiment,” which was read on parade.”

Ensign De Morel was one of these killed, reportedly whilst spiking one of the Sikh guns.

Alphonse Charles De Morel, the eldest son of Count Alphonse Josephe Marie De Morel, was born circa 1826 and entered the Bengal army in 1846. He arrived in India in December that year and was sent to do duty with the 57th Native Infantry at Dinapore. In July 1847 he was posted to the 30th Native Infantry, joining the regiment at Dehli. He was on leave at Calcutta between April and October 1848, however on the regiment been warned for service and moved up to the Sutlej, Ensign De Morel rejoined it. The 30th having been chosen to form a part of the Army of the Punjab at the outbreak of the second Sikh War, they took part in the early part of the Punjab campaign, including the passage of the Chenab and the battle of Chilianwala, 23 January 1849. During the latter battle, at which his regiment played a conspicuous part, they suffering an horrendous number of casualties when charging the Sikh batteries and spiking the guns at the centre of the Sikh line. Ensign De Morel ‘fell whilst in the act of spiking one of the enemy’s guns’. (Soldiers of the Raj refers)………..

Condition GVF, the smallest of EK or better. With its full length or original ribbon and an attractive patina. Sold with various reference books mentioned in the text on and biographical details. These all digital.

A very rare medal to one of the 22 European Officers killed in action at Chilianwala, few of which have ever been on the market. The 30th Native Infantry played a significant, if devastating part in the battle.