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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 179

Pair: Private P. Phelan, 10th (North Lincolnshire) Regiment, who was mortally wounded at Lucknow on 14 March 1858, in the same action in which Private D. Dempsey won the Victoria Cross

Sutlej 1845-46, for Sobraon (Patrick Phelan 10th Regt); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (P. Phelan, 1st Batn 10th Regt), slack suspension and heavy contact wear to first, minor contact marks overall, very fine (2)

Patrick Phelan joined the 10th Regiment (No. 1126) and by 1841 was stationed in the north of England. The Regiment was posted to India the next year and saw extensive service there including during the First Anglo-Sikh War where they saw heavy action in the climactic Battle of Sobraon. Part of the army which laid siege to Multan during the Second Anglo-Sikh war Phelan was also with them at the Battle of Gujrat (Medal and clasps).

When the Indian Mutiny started the Regiment was at Dinapore and their first action the attempted relief of Arrah. In the event only a small number of troops were able to join the action due to the failure to find enough steamers to transport the full force. The attempt was a failure with heavy losses and Arrah would not be relieved until August 1857.

The 10th was then ordered to proceed to Lucknow as part of the second relief of that city as part of General Franks' column. They faced hard fighting during the advance with a portion of the Regiment even required to ride as Mounted Infantry due to their lack of trained horsemen. Fighting their way through rebel forces at Chanda, Umerapore, Sultanpore and Darowdha.

Phelan was mortally wounded at Lucknow on 14 March 1858, the same day that Private Dempsey won the Victoria Cross carrying a powder bag under heavy fire through a burning village to mine the enemy gates. Initially surviving the wound Phelan lingered for two days before expiring on 16 March. He is commemorated upon the Lincoln Cathedral Mutiny Memorial; sold together with typed research.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£450