Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 37

(x) The Punjab Medal awarded to Private A. Whittell, 24th Regiment of Foot, who was tragically killed in action at the Battle of Chillianwala, when his Regiment was cut to ribands whilst advancing unsupported into the teeth of the Sikh Artillery; over half their number became casualties

Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Chilianwala (A. Whittell. 24th Foot.), edge bruising and contact marks, good fine

Ambrose Whittell is confirmed as serving with the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot at Dublin in 1841. His unit was posted to India later in the decade and were present in the Punjab when the Second Anglo-Sikh War began.

They were part of Brigadier Pennycuick's brigade alongside two battalions of the Bengal Native Infantry. The morale of these units was at a low ebb and they held back from the fighting even as the Brigade advanced. At the same time, the 24th stormed forwards, launching a ferocious bayonet charge without firing a shot, resulting in their single battalion advancing directly at the centre of Sikh line, straight into their guns.

Brigadier Pennycuick was killed and his son - a junior officer of the 24th - stood over his father's body, protecting it from the enemy until he too was cut down. The storm of shot caused an astonishing 518 casualties amongst the Battalion - a casualty rate of well over fifty percent. Unsurprisingly in the face of this they were forced to withdraw, with many accounts stating that they also received fire from the two Indian battalions on their flank.

Whittell is noted as killed in action, most likely during the furious storm of cannon and musket fire during the advance; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480