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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 476

13th Foot, Medal of Merit, for 20 Years Good Conduct, 44mm, gold, of hollow construction, good very fine and rare

One of three known to exist in gold.

The 13th Foot Medal of Merit falls in line with many similar regimental awards authorised for issue by the officers for their men before the institution of the Army L.S. & G.C. in 1830. This particular award appears to have been authorised by Lieutenant-Colonel M. McCreagh around 1825, but most likely was not produced before the end of 1826, when the regiment was permitted the battle honour for 'Ava'.

Awards for 7, 10 (none known to exist), 14 and 20 Years Good Conduct were issued and follow a similar design, albeit of differing manufacture - accepted as having been made locally while on service in India. Approximately 18 have been observed to date and one can assume the issuance of the Medal of Merit will have ceased in the early 1830s.

Reference sources:

The Regimental Merit Medal of the Thirteenth Light Infantry, D. C. L. Gosling, published in Army Historical Research.
Regimental and Volunteer Medals - Regular Army, Vol. I, [R214], by J. L. Balmer.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£320