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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 18

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (W. Kiely, 59th Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, good very fine

William Kiely was born in Tallow, Waterford around 1792 and was a smith by trade on his enlistment at Newport in March 1816. Assigned Regimental number 120, he was immediately sent to India, landing in September 1816 he was thence stationed at Fort William, Calcutta. They left the Fort to share in the Pindari War and the Jat War, including the siege and storming of Bhurtpoor. In that action they formed part of the left column under Major-General Nichols, reaching their objective in the final storming, clearing the breach and wheeling left under Captain H. E. Pitman. Pitman led the charge upon the enemy guns, during which he suffered several wounds but inspired his men. eventually being killed by a bayonet. The human cost was remarkable, with over 6000 enemy killed in just an hour. The 59th met further stiff resistance in the form of a column of Ghauts who gallantly fought to the death. The 59th lost 17 killed and a further 105 wounded.

When the 59th departed for England, Kiely transferred to the 41st Foot on 6 January 1829 but the following decade his health suffers, likely from his arduous service and the climate. Spells in hospital in 1838-39 require a return to England in November 1839, with Keily landing at Gravesend on 8 May 1840. He was discharged at the Fort Pitt Military Hospital on 28 May 1840, with some 23 years of service in the East Indies; sold with a comprehensive file of research and rolls.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£550