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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 27

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (J. Smith. 11th Lt. Dragns.), short hyphen reverse, extremely fine

The following three men were awarded the Army of India Medal with a single clasp for Bhurtpoor:

James Smith was born at Blundestone, Suffolk in 1791. He enlisted into the 24th Light Dragoons on 15 June 1811. On 25 April 1813 he transferred to the 21st Light Dragoons, serving in India. He was among 200 men of the Regiment who - following its disbandment - joined the 11th Light Dragoons at Cawnpore on 25 September. The 11th arrived at Meerut in November 1820.

Following the suspicious death of Baldeo Singh, the Raja of Bhurtpoor, his fortress was besieged by a 30,000-strong British force under Lord Combermere, recommended by the Duke of Wellington as no 'great genius' but 'the man to take Bhurtpoor'. The 11th Light Dragoons and 16th Lancers formed part of Colonel Sleigh's Cavalry Division, which marched from Meerut on 30 March 1825. Bhurtpoor had been besieged by a British force twenty years earlier, but the British had foundered against its 8-mile long walls and 150-foot wide, 60-foot deep moat. Keen to avenge the humiliation of 1805, Combermere advanced with a vast siege train. His first act was to seize the city's north-west reservoir, thus preventing the moat from being filled. James Smith fought at the siege, and may have been involved in the reservoir's capture. After the citadel was stormed on 18 January 1826, the 11th Light Dragoons vigorously pursued any defenders who escaped.

James Smith was discharged on 31 October 1837, receiving a Pension the following year. He married Caroline Forder on 12 November 1844. The 1851 census shows him living at Church Lane, Blundestone as a Chelsea Pensioner. He died on 22 June 1860; sold with copied research.

John Smith was born at Shap, Westmoreland in 1798. He enlisted into the 11th Light Dragoons on 13 June 1816, but deserted from the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury on 2 August 1818. He nevertheless rose to Corporal three months later, and to Sergeant in October 1821, but fought at the Siege of Bhurtpoor as a Private. He regained the rank of Sergeant on 20 June 1829, and was discharged on 31 July 1838. He was granted a Pension (Carlisle District) on 12 September 1838. The 1851 census shows him residing at 32 King Street, Tradeston, Lanarkshire. He died at Carlisle on 1 July 1860; sold with copied research.

Joseph Smith was born at Oldham, Lancashire in 1792. He enlisted into the 11th Light Dragoons on 9 June 1809, serving as a Corporal in Captain Bourchier's Troop at the Battle of Waterloo. He fought at the Siege of Bhurtpoor in 1825, likely going into battle wearing his Waterloo Medal. He rose to Sergeant on 25 January 1826, and was discharged on 12 September 1838. The 1861 census lists his address as 89 Portland Street, Manchester. He died of Bronchitis on 1 May 1869, and was buried at Manchester Ardwick Cemetery; sold with copied research.



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Estimate
£800 to £1,000