This distinction is borne on the colours of the 34th Poona Horse and 102nd Grenadiers. It commemorates a very gallant stand made by a small body of Bombay Sepoys during the Second Mahratta War, in face of vastly superior forces. Colonel Burr, who was left in command of the troops at Poona after the defeat of the Peishwa in November, found that, owing to various circumstances, that army, though defeated, was by no means demoralized, and there was reason to fear a fresh attack. He therefore ordered Captain Staunton, who was at Seroor, some fifty miles distant, to fall back on Poona. Staunton had with him a couple of guns of the Madras Artillery, with twenty-six English gunners, 500 of the 2nd (now 102nd) Grenadiers, and 250 of what was then known as the Reformed Horse (now the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse). Staunton moved off on receiving Colonel Burr's orders, but on nearing Corygaum found himself in the presence of the main body of the Peishwa's army, estimated at 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns. The village lent itself to defence, though the position was much cramped, especially for the large number of horses attached to his little force. Staunton knew that Sir Lionel Smith was within a couple of days' march, and that if he could hold out for that time he was sure of relief. He had taken the precaution to move with double the usual supply of ammunition, and he was seconded by eight British officers as gallant as himself.

On the evening of December 30 he occupied the village, which he proceeded to strengthen so far as was possible. The want of water was a great drawback, and, as I have said before, the large number of horses within such a confined space impeded the movements of the men. The fight was an exceedingly fierce one. The enemy on more than one occasion obtained an entrance into the village, and were able to seize the temporary hospital. The wounded were cruelly massacred, but a fine charge led by Dr. Wylie enabled Staunton to regain possession of this building. On another occasion during an assault by an overwhelming number of the enemy one of the two guns was lost, but a counter-attack retrieved this loss. For thirty-six hours the little force held its own. Five out of the eight officers were hors de combat, only six men were left to work the guns, and the sepoy battalion had lost 150 out of 500 men. On the evening of New Year's Day the fire of the assailants began to slacken, and ere nightfall it had died away. News had reached Sir Lionel Smith of the hard straits of Staunton's force, and he at once moved off to relieve him. The Peishwa's army was in no mood to face a well-organized British army, and it hurriedly withdrew from before Corygaum, leaving Staunton with the consciousness of having placed on record one of the finest feats of arms in the history of the Bombay army. Both Staunton and Dr. Wylie ultimately received the Companionship of the Bath for their services, and a monument was erected at Corygaum to commemorate the fight.

Casualties at the Action of Corygaum, January 1, 1818.

Regiments.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.
Bombay Art.1-128
Poona Horse-34024
102nd Grenadiers1350105

Nowah, January 21, 1819.

This name is inscribed on the colours of the 94th and 95th Russell's Infantry, and commemorates a little-known episode in the history of our dealings with the peoples of Southern India. A mud fort held by a rebellious chief defied the power alike of the Hyderabad Nizam and the British Resident. It became necessary to bring the recalcitrant chief to reason, and the Resident despatched a portion of the Hyderabad contingent to reduce the fort. Fortunately, the operations were attended with no loss of English life, but a glance at the casualty list shows that the fighting was far more severe than in many actions which are recognized on the colours of better-known regiments than the direct representatives of Russell's brigade.

Casualties at the Siege and Assault of Nowah, January, 1819.

Regiments.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.
94th Russell's Infantry-11258
95th Russell's I.-2356
96th Berar Inf.-1644

Medal for the Second Mahratta War.

For their services in this campaign the survivors were awarded the India General Service Medal, the issue of which was notified in the London Gazette of February 28, 1851. The following clasps were issued with the medal: