A VERY SCARCE PUNJAB 1848 TO A SEPOY 45TH BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY OFFICERS, WHO’ REGIMENT CHARGED THE SIKH GUNS WITH THE 24TH FOOT AT CHILIANWALA DURING THE PUNJAB CAMPAIGN OF 1848-9

PUNJAB 1848-49, 2 CLASPS, CHILIANWALA, GOOJERAT ‘SEPOY DAVIEDEEN PATTOCK. 45TH N.I.’

At the battle of Chillianwala, the 45th Native Infantry were part of Brigadier Pennycuicks brigade, who along with the 24th Foot and 25th Native Infantry attacked the Sikh positions with the bayonet. Charging out of the jungle and under heavy cannon fire, these three regiments attacked the Sikh guns and in a short but terrible assault were all but cut to pieces and were forced into a confused retreat. Each regiment would suffer heavy casualties.

During the retreat on the village of Chilianwala, it was 4 Officers and 52 men of the 45th who covered the retreat of the regiment, this resulting in less casualties to this regiment than the other two; the 45th, 600 strong, lost 17 men killed, 5 Officers and 53 men wounded, 3 missing. Post battle, the two Native Infantry regiments felt themselves very hard done by criticism levelled at them not keeping up with the 24th and thus as usually the case, all the glory went to the European troops. As can be seen from the following letter published in the United Service Magazine of 1850, Officers of the 45th, attempted to put the facts straight:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tdagAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA276&dq=45TH+BENGAL+NATIVE+INFANTRY+chillianwala&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj36t7BidvnAhXwQ0EAHStaB1MQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=45TH%20BENGAL%20NATIVE%20INFANTRY%20chillianwala&f=false

Condition, VF or better; naming officially engraved in running script.

Punjab 1848’s to Sepoy’s are far scarcer on the market than medals to European troops or to Native Infantry Regiment Officers.