Part 10

=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.

=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.

=The First China Medal, 1842.=--In January 1843 the grant of a medal was made to commemorate "the signal successes of Her Majesty's Naval and Military forces," both European and Native, upon the coast and in the interior of the Empire of China. On the obverse is the diademed head of Queen Victoria facing to the left, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA on either side, and on the truncation of the head W. WYON, R.A. This was the first medal issued with the Queen's head. On the reverse is a trophy of naval and military weapons, very badly disposed, with an oval shield bearing the Royal Arms in the centre, the whole backed by a palm tree, and above ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM, with CHINA on a plain panel in the exergue, and underneath the date ~1842~. The medal is 1⅖ in. in diameter, with a plain straight German-silver clasp soldered on for suspension from a ribbon of red with broad yellow edges, the same width as the diameter of the medal. The names of the recipients, and the number of the regiment or name of ship, were impressed upon the edge in bold Roman capital letters. The reverse of this medal has been used ever since for presentation to troops taking part in Chinese wars, the date 1842 being deleted, and fishtail bars recording the engagements and dates used to indicate the campaign.

SECOND AFGHAN WAR

Shah Shoojah made a very indifferent ruler, and, as I have stated, did little to strengthen his hold on the throne upon which the British had placed him--indeed, without British arms he possessed no authority. The price we paid to keep this unpopular and bad ruler upon his throne--mainly, it is true, to ensure a barrier against Russia--was a heavy one. In October 1841 the Afghans openly rebelled at Cabul, murdered Sir Alexander Burnes and Sir William Macnaughton, and the troops were forced to retire upon Jellalabad, but were practically cut to pieces on the march, Dr. Brydon--who became one of the famous Lucknow garrison--being the only British officer to reach that city. It is estimated that of 20,000 who left Cabul, only a few hundreds escaped with their lives. The 44th (1st Essex Regiment) had 22 officers and 543 men killed during this disastrous retreat. Meanwhile Sir Robert Sale with the 13th Somerset Light Infantry, which had been detached from Cabul to deal with the insurgents in the Khoord-Cabul pass, had occupied Jellalabad.

=Jellalabad.=--The defence of Jellalabad by the little force under Sir Robert Sale, including Captain (afterwards the famous Sir Henry) Havelock, is the bright gem which sparkles in the dross of this unfortunate campaign. The city was in a very poor condition when the gallant defender seized the place and proceeded to strengthen it. On November 12th, 1841, the garrison had only one half-day's rations, but by a plucky sortie they managed to drive off the Afghans and obtain supplies. The place was again invested on the 27th, but by a successful sally on December 1st they were routed. On January 9th the leader of the rebellion called upon Sir Robert Sale to surrender the fortress, but he naturally refused. Not only was the indomitable spirit of the British tried by the repeated attacks of the enemy, but it almost appeared as if Nature herself was in league with the insurgents, for within a month a series of earthquake shocks demolished a third of the place and part of the defences, and necessitated continual repair of the works. Then came the blockade by Mahomed Akbar Khan, who after assassinating the British envoy at Cabul was responsible for the destruction of the army which left that city. On April 7th, however, the defenders made a determined attack upon the camp of the besiegers, and the 6,000 men under Mahomed Akbar were put to rout, and the siege abandoned. The regiments engaged in the defence of Jellalabad, under Sir Robert Sale, were H.M.'s 13th Light Infantry; a squadron of the 5th Bengal Light Cavalry; 35th Bengal Native Infantry; detachments of Broadfoot's Sappers and the 6th Shah's Infantry; half the Shah's Mountain Train; 2nd and 6th Batts. Bengal Artillery; a few native officers, and 682 armed followers.

=First Jellalabad Medal.=--The "Illustrious" garrison of Jellalabad, which had kept the flag flying for five months, was awarded a medal by General Order dated Allahabad, April 30th, 1842. It is a very simple medal, 1½ in. in diameter, bearing on the obverse JELLALABAD in capital block letters taking the line of the medal above a mural crown, and on the reverse the date APRIL boldly occupying the centre, with VII above and ~1842~ below. The suspenders were of two kinds--a steel clip and ring, or a silver wire loop attached to a ring through a hole in the broad flat rim. The medals were mostly issued without names; a few were indented, but the majority were engraved. The ribbon of watered silk is 1⅘ in. wide, and shaded rainbow fashion from crimson to yellow and blue. Two thousand five hundred and ninety-six medals were issued, and the relatives of those defenders who succumbed between April 7th, 1842, and the date of issue in December received the medal. The rarer medals are those awarded to the Shah's Mountain Train and the Shah's Cavalry, also the 5th Bengal Light Infantry.

=Second Jellalabad Medal.=--Lord Ellenborough, the Governor-General of India, being dissatisfied with the simple and somewhat crude character of the award, had a more decorative medal designed by W. Wyon and struck at the Royal Mint, that those who cared might exchange when they were issued in March 1845. The men, however, were loath to part with the original medal, and very few applied for the new one; it is stated that of the famous 13th--the only European regiment to receive the award--only five exchanged their medals. The obverse of the second Jellalabad, or the "Flying Victory," bears the head of Queen Victoria as on the China medal, with VICTORIA VINDEX above (a few were issued with VICTORIA REGINA), and on the reverse the fortress of Jellalabad, with a bold flying figure of Victory above bearing in her uplifted left hand the Union Jack, and in her right two wreaths; above is JELLALABAD VII APRIL, and in the exergue MDCCCXLII. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, was suspended from the crimson, yellow, and blue ribbon by a steel or plated bar 2⅖ in. long. The recipient's name, etc., was impressed upon the edge in capital Roman letters, but some were issued engraved in script. In addition to the 13th (later called Prince Albert's Light Infantry, as one of the honours conferred for the occasion; they also had their facings changed from yellow to blue), the 35th Native Infantry, 2-6th Batt. Bengal Artillery, Anderson's Horse, one squadron 5th Bengal Light Native Cavalry, and Broadfoot's Sappers and Miners took part in the defence.