Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 38

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Nepaul (H. Gorham, 66th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, minor edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise good very fine

Henry Gorham was born in St. Paul's Parish, Bristol in 1787 and enlisted for life with the 66th Regiment of Foot at age 18. Gorham and his Regiment were posted to Trincomalee, Ceylon from July 1804 until embarking for Fort William, Calcutta in April 1814, from whence they travelled to Dinapore the following year. They crossed the Nepalese frontier in early 1816 under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Nicol and reached Makwanpur that March, but do not seem to have been engaged in any fighting in Nepal and returned to India later that month.

Gorham also had the distinction of guarding the exiled Emperor Napoleon on the remote isle of St. Helena, to which he arrived with the unit from Calcutta in July 1817. Whilst on St. Helena, the 2/66th Foot was disbanded and absorbed by the 1/66th Foot. Gorham was later discharged on the island in September 1819 due to being worn out, with his conduct 'very good and a brave soldier'. Census records reveal he lived the rest of his life in Bristol with his wife and children until his death there at age 81 in 1868; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£800