Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 8
Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Goojerat, Chilianwala (Thos Dowdle. 14th Lt Dragns), overall contact wear and edge bruising, nearly very fine
Thomas Dowdle was born at Bermondsey, London in 1820 and enlisted with the 14th Light Dragoons on 12 May 1841 at Canterbury, where he was assigned the Service Number 969. His service record notes that Dowdle saw out his entire career in India, he was posted at Meerut, India on 1 January 1851, remaining here until 31 March of that year and was still present on the subcontinent when the Second Anglo-Sikh War broke out in 1848. The 14th Light Dragoons played a less than glorious role in the early stages of the campaign as their reckless advance at the Battle of Ramnagar nearly saw them encircled and led to the death of the Divisional Cavalry Commander, General Cureton. Later they were to flee the battlefield of Chilianwala, although this was largely due to their severe mishandling by Brigadier Pope. The Regiment redeemed itself at the Battle of Goojerat however where they guarded the British right flank against the encircling moves of the Sikh Cavalry.
Dowdle service records notes that he was present at the surrender of the Sikh army on 12 March. Later he was part of the contingent which retook Attock and Peshwar and saw to the 'expulsion of the afghans beyond the Khyber pass'.
After the war Dowdle remained in India seeing action in the Anglo-Persian War 1857 and later in the Indian Mutiny (Medal and Central India Clasp). Here he served with the Central India Field Force and spent at least some time with the Malwa Field Force being present for the capture of Dhar on 22 October 1857, the battle of Mundesore on 21 November and the siege of Rathguhr at the end of January 1858. Also part of the fighting at Jhansi Dowdle was present at the Battle of the Betwa River in April 1858 and the fall of the fortress a few days later. Having engaged in over a dozen sieges and battles over the course of the year it is fitting that he was present for the end of serious resistance with the fall of Gwalior in June 1858, the last action he took part in. He was finally discharged at Chatham on 4 August 1860 after a service of 18 years and 4 months, spent entirely in India; sold together with copied service record.
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Sold for
£700
Starting price
£220