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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 14

'Lost a leg in the service but retains sufficient reliability on foot and horseback to do a good deal of duty.'

The service record of Lieutenant-Colonel Daly, refers

The Army of India Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. 'Tosh' Daly, 14th Regiment of Foot, who was severely wounded - at the cost of his left leg - at the head of the Light Company at the storming of Bhurtpoor in January 1826; he remained in the Army and went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where the sound of his wooden leg would warn Cadets of his presence

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Bhurtpoor (Lieut. R. Daly, 14th Foot.), short-hyphen reverse, very fine

Robert Daly was born in January 1802, a scion of Castle Daly, Westmeath, Ireland. Made Ensign without purchase in August 1822, he would further be promoted Lieutenant on 6 January 1826. The Barnsley Chronicle gives further insight:

'He was descended from an ancient family, settled at Castle Daly in County Westmeath, Ireland, and entered the Army at an early age. At that period, as we have seen, the military were frequently being called upon to quell the rioting among the weavers at Barnsley. It was probably on one of these visits that he saw and fell in love with Frances, the daughter of Robert Richardson. Mr Richardson built and inhabited that large stone mansion in Church Street nearly opposite St Mary's, and was very wealthy, owning a large amount of property in the centre of the town as well as in other places.

He refused to accept Mr Daly as a son-in-law, consequently about 1822 the young couple ran away to be married. The father was so angry that he threatened to disinherit his daughter. Almost immediately afterwards Lieutenant Daly was ordered to India, and was present at the siege of Bhurtpore. This city, with walls 60 feet in thickness, had successfully resisted a British attack in 1805, but when the walls had been battered for a fortnight, on January 18, 1826, it was captured after a severe struggle.

Lieut. Daly, of the 14th Regiment of Foot, was leader of the Forlorn Hope, and lost his leg in mounting the breach. Most soldiers, after such a catastrophe, would have terminated their military career. Not so with him, for he afterwards served on the personal staff of Lord Harris and General Buchan.'

As stated, Daly continued in his career, with a wooden leg, being promoted Captain in January 1840. He was appointed a House Captain at Sandhurst in July 1843, being made Major in November 1851, Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1858 and retired from the 3rd Foot in 1859.

The source of his nickname came be found in Annals of Sandhurst:

'A man with a wooden leg was always known by the nickname " Tosh," which seems to have been the cadet slang for foot (the foot-tubs provided for each cadet's ablutions were called "tosh"-cans, and ultimately the bathing-rooms at the end of each passage got the title of "tosh"-rooms); and a wooden leg was dear to the cadets because it warned them of its owner's approach.

Captain Daly, who commanded A Company at the end of the forties, had lost a leg when serving with the 14th Regiment at Bhurtpore, and wore a wooden one, the stumping of which down the passages at "lights out" gave timely notice that he was going the rounds. The word was passed from room to room, " 'Tosh', Daly's on the stump," and forthwith every one was under the bedclothes, though ready to be out again and smoking hard up the chimney five minutes later.'

With his wife, the pair returned to Barnsley, with Daly becoming a local Magistrate. He died in November 1861.

For the Medal awarded to his son, please see Lot 18.

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Sold for
£2,100

Starting price
£1900