A rare 4-clasp medal for the Second Mahratta War to Trooper George Loder, 27th Light Dragoons

Army of India 1799-1826, 4 clasps, Allighur, Battle of Delhi, Laswarree, Capture of Deig (G. Loder, 27th Lt. Dragns) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, extremely fine and rare £8000-10000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Collection

Ex Whitaker 1890.

Only 23 medals issued with 4 clasps, including 14 to British regiments, nine with this combination of clasps.

George Loder, a Labourer, was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and enlisted into the 27th Light Dragoons on 29 December 1798, aged 20 years. He was then described as being five foot five and a half inches in height, and possessed a ‘fresh complexion, light brown hair’ and ‘green eyes’. Loder landed in India with the 27th Light Dragoons on 14 October 1800. His regiment, re-numbered as 24th Light Dragoons in 1803, served with Lord Lake’s Army during the Second Mahratta War 1803-05. In 1803, George Loder was present at the successful assault on the fortress at Allighur and at the battle of Delhi, on the 4th and 11th of September respectively, at the battle of Laswarree on the 1st of November, and, in the following year, at the capture of the fortress of Deig from 11th-23rd of December. He is recorded as serving with Captain Philpot’s Troop and as having been transferred to Hospital on 23rd of September 1803, shortly after the action at Delhi. Loder landed back in England on 13 May 1819 and his regiment was disbanded on the 24th of the same month.

Refs: WO 12/1492; WO 25/305; WO 25/1314; WO 97/1184B.