War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
=Meeanee.=--In 1843 the "tail of the Afghan storm" arose. It followed
the attempt on the part of several Ameers, with an army of 8,000
Belooches, to obtain possession of the British Presidency at Hyderabad;
they were driven off, but owing to the weakness of the place it was
decided to abandon it for the safety of the camp commanded by Sir
Charles Napier, to whom the conduct of the campaign in Scinde had
been entrusted, and who gained for himself the native sobriquet
"Shaitan-ke-bhaee," or "The devil's brother," by his determined action
in dealing with the Ameers. He first destroyed the fort at Emaun
Ghur on January 14th and 15th, a feat which drew forth the eulogiums
of Wellington, and ruined the chance of the Ameers in the campaign.
On February 17th the battle of Meeanee was fought, 2,800 men, with
12 guns, under Major-General Sir Charles Napier attacking, and in
three hours defeating the Scindian army of 30,000 infantry and 5,000
cavalry, with 15 guns, but not before nearly all the European officers
were killed or wounded. The Belooches, who fought with remarkable
valour, lost 5,000 men, their camp and all its appurtenances falling
into the hands of the British. Next day six of the Ameers surrendered.
The only Queen's Regiment represented at Meeanee was the 22nd Foot,
and only 65 medals were issued to the regiment, with two companies of
Bombay Artillery; Grenadiers of the 1st Native Infantry; 12th and 25th
Native Infantry; a detachment of Poona Irregular Horse, to which corps
only 14 medals were issued; Scinde Irregular Horse; 9th Bengal Light
Cavalry, and half company of Madras Sappers and Miners. The 22nd lost 1
officer and 23 men killed; its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel
Pennefeather, 6 officers, and 52 men wounded.
=Hyderabad.=--The Ameers, who still held out against the British army,
made a stand with 20,000 men at the village of Duppa, near Hyderabad,
under Meer Shere Mahomed, where on March 24th they were attacked by Sir
Charles Napier with 5,000 troops, and defeated with great loss. The
arch enemy of the British, Hoche Mahomed Seede, was killed, and Meer
Shere Mahomed fled to the desert; the battle was decided by the 22nd
Regiment and the troop of Bombay Horse Artillery. In this battle the
22nd, which numbered 560 rank and file, lost 23 men killed, 5 officers
and 134 men wounded.
[Illustration: AFGHAN MEDAL FOR CANDAHAR, GHUZNEE, AND CABUL, 1842.]
[Illustration: BRONZE STAR FOR MAHARAJPOOR.]
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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