War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

Jellalabad.—The defence of Jellalabad by the little force under Sir Robert Sale, including Captain (afterwards the famous Sir Henry) Havelock, is the bright gem which sparkles in the dross of this unfortunate campaign. The city was in a very poor condition when the gallant defender seized the place and proceeded to strengthen it. On November 12th, 1841, the garrison had only one half-day's rations, but by a plucky sortie they managed to drive off the Afghans and obtain supplies. The place was again invested on the 27th, but by a successful sally on December 1st they were routed. On January 9th the leader of the rebellion called upon Sir Robert Sale to surrender the fortress, but he naturally refused. Not only was the indomitable spirit of the British tried by the repeated attacks of the enemy, but it almost appeared as if Nature herself was in league with the insurgents, for within a month a series of earthquake shocks demolished a third of the place and part of the defences, and necessitated continual repair of the works. Then came the blockade by Mahomed Akbar Khan, who after assassinating the British envoy at Cabul was responsible for the destruction of the army which left that city. On April 7th, however, the defenders made a determined attack upon the camp of the besiegers, and the 6,000 men under Mahomed Akbar were put to rout, and the siege abandoned. The regiments engaged in the defence of Jellalabad, under Sir Robert Sale, were H.M.'s 13th Light Infantry; a squadron of the 5th Bengal Light Cavalry; 35th Bengal Native Infantry; detachments of Broadfoot's Sappers and the 6th Shah's Infantry; half the Shah's Mountain Train; 2nd and 6th Batts. Bengal Artillery; a few native officers, and 682 armed followers.

First Jellalabad Medal.—The "Illustrious" garrison of Jellalabad, which had kept the flag flying for five months, was awarded a medal by General Order dated Allahabad, April 30th, 1842. It is a very simple medal, 1½ in. in diameter, bearing on the obverse JELLALABAD in capital block letters taking the line of the medal above a mural crown, and on the reverse the date APRIL boldly occupying the centre, with VII above and 1842 below. The suspenders were of two kinds—a steel clip and ring, or a silver wire loop attached to a ring through a hole in the broad flat rim. The medals were mostly issued without names; a few were indented, but the majority were engraved. The ribbon of watered silk is 1⅘ in. wide, and shaded rainbow fashion from crimson to yellow and blue. Two thousand five hundred and ninety-six medals were issued, and the relatives of those defenders who succumbed between April 7th, 1842, and the date of issue in December received the medal. The rarer medals are those awarded to the Shah's Mountain Train and the Shah's Cavalry, also the 5th Bengal Light Infantry.

Second Jellalabad Medal.—Lord Ellenborough, the Governor-General of India, being dissatisfied with the simple and somewhat crude character of the award, had a more decorative medal designed by W. Wyon and struck at the Royal Mint, that those who cared might exchange when they were issued in March 1845. The men, however, were loath to part with the original medal, and very few applied for the new one; it is stated that of the famous 13th—the only European regiment to receive the award—only five exchanged their medals. The obverse of the second Jellalabad, or the "Flying Victory," bears the head of Queen Victoria as on the China medal, with VICTORIA VINDEX above (a few were issued with VICTORIA REGINA), and on the reverse the fortress of Jellalabad, with a bold flying figure of Victory above bearing in her uplifted left hand the Union Jack, and in her right two wreaths; above is JELLALABAD VII APRIL, and in the exergue MDCCCXLII. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, was suspended from the crimson, yellow, and blue ribbon by a steel or plated bar 2⅖ in. long. The recipient's name, etc., was impressed upon the edge in capital Roman letters, but some were issued engraved in script. In addition to the 13th (later called Prince Albert's Light Infantry, as one of the honours conferred for the occasion; they also had their facings changed from yellow to blue), the 35th Native Infantry, 2-6th Batt. Bengal Artillery, Anderson's Horse, one squadron 5th Bengal Light Native Cavalry, and Broadfoot's Sappers and Miners took part in the defence.

Cabul.—The prestige of Britain had been lowered as a result of the insurrections, and in order to relieve Jellalabad (but it is said to take vengeance upon the enemy), Major-General Pollock was dispatched with an army, with which he forced the Kyber Pass and relieved Jellalabad on April 16th, where he halted for some months to organise his transport. Meanwhile oppressive heat and pestilence played havoc with the troops encamped in the valley of Jellalabad, and it was determined to divide the force and advance on Cabul, General Pollock having a hard fight at the pass of Jugdulluck, where he beat off Mahomed Khan and the Ghilzie chiefs. Later the combined divisions of Pollock and Sale combated the enemy in the Tezeen pass, where, on September 13th, Akbar Khan with 20,000 men disputed passage. His force, however, was put to rout, and the leader escaped accompanied by a single soldier. The debacle was complete, and on September 15th the army encamped on the race-course at Cabul, and next day the British flag again flew over the city.

The following troops took part in the march and recapture of Cabul: 9th, 13th, 31st, 40th, and 41st Foot Regiments, and the 3rd Light Dragoons, who were awarded the medal for Cabul, also the following regiments in the H.E.I. Co.'s service: 4th, 5th, 6th, and 12th Bengal Infantry; 1st and 10th Bengal Light Cavalry; 3rd Irregular Cavalry; the 5th company of the Bengal Artillery, and Sappers and Miners.

Three thousand five hundred medals were issued to Europeans for Cabul, but very few were issued to the 40th Regiment.

Candahar.—Major-General Knott's defence of Candahar, if not so famous as that of Jellalabad by Sir Robert Sale, exhibited the same tenacity and cool determination. The rebels in the vicinity of Candahar were led by Prince Sufter Jung, a son of Shah Shoojah, and Prince Timour; they and their men, however, were helpless in the face of the little British army that sallied forth on the morning of January 12th, 1842, and routed them. The success of the battle did but keep the enemy at a respectful distance, for they spent their time in plundering the villages in the neighbourhood. Bad weather militated against any further effort on the part of the British general until March 7th, when he advanced against the rebel Afghans, and again put them to rout, but while the detachment was engaged in combating one section of the insurgents, another made a daring attack upon the city; they were, however, repulsed with considerable loss. Another action was fought on March 25th, and, with the assistance of the brigade under Colonel Wymer, the investing enemy was driven in confusion across the Urghundaub. On April 28th Major-General (later Sir) Richard England, after attacking the enemy at Hykulzie, successfully reached Candahar, and enabled Major-General Knott to advance upon Cabul.

"The Fighting Fortieth" was the only British regiment present in the defence and in the actions outside. It is noteworthy that through disease the regiment had been considerably reduced before it took part in the defence of Candahar. Major Biddulph states that only 64 "Candahar" medals were struck for the 40th Foot, and of these 42 were for the relatives of deceased officers and soldiers, and 22 for sick, etc., who had returned to India. The 41st, the Welsh Regiment, was the only British unit that took part in the relief of Candahar. The 5th, 6th, and 12th Bengal Infantry; Poona Horse; 1st Bengal (Skinner's) and 3rd Bombay Cavalry, and Bombay and Bengal Artillery were engaged in the defence and relief.

Only 130 Europeans received the medal for Candahar.

Kelat-i-Ghilzie.—Colonel Wymer, C.B., with a detachment which included a few men of "The Fighting Fortieth," marched on Kelat-i-Ghilzie, a hill fort 84 miles from Candahar, in order to draw off the garrison, which had held the fort during the winter, and (on May 21st) five days before Colonel Wymer's arrival had succeeded in defeating 4,000 Ghilzees who had attacked the fort. The garrison of only 950, under the command of Captain Craigie, included about 100 Europeans. For this heroic defence a silver medal was issued to every man taking part; it is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and depends from a steel clip and bar, as in the medal illustrated facing page [96], and was suspended from the same kind of ribbon. On the obverse is an ornamental shield inscribed KELAT-I-GHILZIE, surrounded by a laurel wreath with a mural crown above. On the reverse is a military trophy, with a breast-plate and helmet forming the central feature, and "INVICTA MDCCCXLII" on an ornamental tablet underneath. The names of the recipients were all engraved, generally in script. None of the Queen's Regiments took part in the defence, the majority (600) of the defenders being of the Shah's army. Three companies of the 43rd Bengal Infantry, 44 European Artillerymen including one officer, and 60 Sappers and Miners of the H.E.I. Co.'s service were also engaged. Only 55 Europeans received this medal.