Three-Day General Auction (Jewellery, Watches, Designer Items, Militaria, Coins, Asian Antiques and Collectables)
Lot 38:
A Punjab War Medal 1848-49, with clasps ‘Chillianwala’ and ‘Goojerat’; named to: Gunner Richd Rosser, 1st Tp 3rd Bde H Arty. The Battle of Chillianwala on 13 January 1849 was probably the bloodiest battle fought during the British conquest of India, and the only battle in the Sikh Wars in
which the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Hugh Gough, failed to achieve an undisputed victory (for which he was later dismissed). The Horse Artillery, known
for its speed and manoeuvrability, was used to support infantry and cavalry advances and during the battle of Chillianwala was deployed in both divisions,
facing heavy counter-battery fire from Sikh artillery, particularly during the initial stages of the battle. At a crucial stage, the precipitous withdrawal of the British
cavalry regiments left the brigade horse artillery battery unprotected, and, in the
confusion of limbering up, the battery was overrun by the Sikh cavalry who captured
two guns. Eventually two other guns came into action and were sufficient to drive the
Sikh cavalry back. The Battle of Goojerat on 21 February 1849 saw the final defeat of the Sikh Army
(The Khalsa) and the end of the Second Sikh War.
Richard Rosser was born in Newington (then Surrey) in 1826. A brick maker by
trade, he enlisted in the HEIC Army in 1845, aged 20 and joined the Bengal Horse
Artillery. He served for 21 years, nearly 20 of which were spent in India. He transferred to the Imperial Royal Artillery in 1861 and was discharged to pension at Woolwich on 15 May 1865. During his service he was promoted up to Corporal or Sergeant three times and was reduced back to Gunner as a result of Court Martial
proceedings on three occasions, and was finally discharged as a Gunner. Despite this, his overall conduct was assessed as ‘Good’. For some reason, he used the alias ‘William Richardson Green’ and actually signed his discharge papers ‘H R Green’. With photocopy of his discharge papers.
Very Fine (VF) condition.
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