As a result of the campaign Scinde and Meerpore passed into British possession. The troops engaged at Hyderabad were: H.M.'s 22nd Foot; 1st Troop of Bombay Horse Artillery; 2nd-1st and 2nd-2nd Companies of the Bombay Artillery; 1st, 8th, 12th, 21st, and 25th Native Infantry; 3rd and 5th Companies of Golundaze; Madras Sappers and Miners; 3rd Bombay Cavalry; 9th Bengal Cavalry; Poona Horse and Scinde Horse; also men from the Indus Flotilla.
Medals for Meeanee and Hyderabad.—The medal for the war in Scinde in 1843 was the only war medal given by the Home Government to the troops employed in India during the period of the East India Company's rule. The medal is practically the same as that described and illustrated as given for Candahar, Ghuznee, and Cabul in the 1842 campaign, the name of the battle—MEEANEE or HYDERABAD—and date, 1843, being arranged inside a wreath surmounted by the royal crown. A third medal given to those who were present in both actions has MEEANEE-HYDERABAD within laurel wreaths tied together, the whole surmounted by the royal crown. A medal for the battle of Meeanee, awarded to the 22nd, has realised from £7 to £9. The steel suspender, as in the Cabul medal illustrated, was issued with the medal given to non-commissioned officers and privates, but those with the officers' medals were of silver; the Colonel, however, of the only English regiment present—the 22nd—had, at his own expense, silver suspenders made for his men in place of the steel ones. The 22nd were present at both battles, also detachments of royal and horse artillery. Some of these medals have the names of the recipients, etc., engraved in script; others are mostly impressed in Roman capitals. Those to the 22nd were generally engraved in block lettering. The ribbon used is the "rainbow" or Army of India type.
THE GWALIOR CAMPAIGN
The year 1843 also saw the Gwalior campaign, in which the two decisive battles of Maharajpoor and Punniar were fought on the same day, December 29th. "The Army of Exercise" had been assembled at Agra owing to troubles following the death of the Maharajah. Tyajee Rao Scindiah had been acknowledged by the British Government, and Mama Sahib was appointed Regent. He was, however, expatriated, and an attempt made to undermine the position of the young Maharajah. His authority was, however, re-established, and the British army prepared to leave the country under the command of Major-General Sir Hugh Gough.
Maharajpoor.—They crossed the Koharee River on the morning of December 29th, to find about 18,000 Mahrattas with 100 guns strongly entrenched at the village of Maharajpoor. The British army consisted of 14,000 men with 40 guns. A terrific conflict ensued owing to the superiority of the enemy in artillery, but attacked on all sides by the British force they were routed, despite the splendid determination of the Mahratta gunners, who were bayoneted at their guns, and the gallantry of the infantry, who discarding their matchlocks stubbornly fought hand to hand with the British soldiers.
The regiments engaged were the 39th and 40th Foot and the 16th Lancers. The H.E.I. Co.'s troops were the 2nd, 14th, 16th, 31st, 43rd, and 56th Bengal Native Infantry; 1st Bengal Light Cavalry; 4th, section of the 5th, 8th Bengal Light Cavalry; 10th Bengal Light Cavalry; 2nd Skinner's Horse; 4th Irregular Cavalry (in reserve); 2 companies of Bengal Foot Artillery (3 companies and 4 of natives in reserve); 3 troops of Bengal Horse Artillery and 3rd, 4th, and 7th companies Bengal Sappers and Miners.
Punniar.—On the afternoon of the 29th the left wing of the army, under Major-General Grey, discovered about 1,200 of the enemy in position on a range of hills near Punniar, and by a brilliant attack carried every position, and routed the enemy with considerable loss. These two victories which terminated the war were dearly bought, over 1,000 men being placed hors de combat.
The Queen's Regiments at Punniar were the 3rd Buffs, 50th, Queen's Own, and 2 squadrons 9th Lancers; 5 companies of the 39th, 50th, and 51st Native Infantry; 2 squadrons 5th Bengal Light Cavalry; 8th Bengal and 8th Irregular Cavalry; 2 squadrons 11th Bengal Light Cavalry; 1st Company Bengal Sappers and Miners; 2 troops Bengal Horse Artillery and 1 company Bengal Foot Artillery.
Maharajpoor and Punniar Stars.—For these fights the victorious Britishers and native troops were awarded bronze six-pointed stars, 17∕10 in. in diameter (as illustrated facing pages [108] and [112]), made from the captured cannon, having in the centre a small silver star bearing the words PUNNIAR or MAHARAJPOOR, 1843, in a circle, and in the centre the date of the action, 29th.
DECr. The star worn by Lord Gough had a silver elephant on the obverse instead of the silver star. These stars were originally fitted with broad brass hooks for attachment to a loop on the coat, but in some instances a steel ring was run through it, so as to allow for suspension by the rainbow ribbon used at the time with other Indian war medals, as illustrated in the pair for Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul, and Maharajpoor, or a silver, or German-silver, suspender was attached, as shown in the Punniar star. The name, number, and regiment of the soldier were engraven on the back, at either side of the hook, in a light, slanting script.