A rare Army of India medal awarded to Lieutenant John Laurie, Bombay Artillery, who commanded a detachment of guns at the battle of Kirkee in November 1817, an action commemorated by the Royal Artillery Honour Title “Kirkee”

Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Kirkee and Poona (Lieut. John Laurie, Arty.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, extremely fine £4000-5000

Only two clasps for ‘Kirkee & Poona’ to Artillery officers.

John Laurie was born on 25 July 1794, probably in London, the son of John Laurie and Francis his wife, and was baptised in St Clement Danes on 22 August 1794. He was nominated a Cadet for Madras for the season 1808-09 by Mr Marjoribanks, a Director of the E.I.C. at the recommendation of Mrs Malcolm, and was examined and passed by the E.I.C. Selection Committee on 27 December 1808. However, Laurie’s nomination was transferred to another Director, Jacob Bosanquet, Esq. and on 21 January 1809 he joined the Military Seminary at Addiscombe, where he remained until 1811. On completion of his studies he sailed for India in the ship Chapman.

Laurie was gazetted in the Bombay Artillery in the rank of Lieutenant-Fireworker on 10 July 1812 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 7 December 1816. On the outbreak of the third Mahratta War, towards the end of 1817, he was in command of a detachment of 6th Company, Bombay Artillery (4 guns), part of a small field force under Lieutenant-Colonel Burr left at Poona to support the British Resident at the Peshwa’s court, Mountstewart Elphinstone. In October 1817 the enmity of the Peshwa became so apparent that Elphinstone ordered Colonel Burr to withdraw his force from their lines near the city to a more open position near Kirkee. Nearby, at Dapuri, was a small force of cavalry, infantry and artillery, maintained by the Peshwa under treaty but trained and commanded by British officers.

On 5 November Elphinstone had to abandon the Residency and retire to Kirkee, where he joined Burr, whose force immediately moved against the enemy. Joined by troops from Dapuri, Burr’s men advanced steadily and cleared the field of the enemy. The artillery received a handsome mention in Colonel Burr’s dispatch (London Gazette 18 April 1818): ‘The “Bombay” and Dapuri artillery under the command of Captain Thew and Lieutenant Laurie rendered the most important services; and the spirited manner in which the guns were served greatly contributed to the rapid success of the day.’ The total casualties were 19 killed and 67 wounded.

On 13 November, Brigadier-General Lionel Smith, commanding the 4th or Poona Division of the Army of the Deccan (under Hislop) arrived in the vicinity of the city. On the 16th, with his own forces and those who had fought at Kirkee, he forded the Mutha Mulla River against opposition (15 killed and 79 wounded) and on the following day captured the city of Poona without further conflict. He then set out to pursue the Peshwa, forming flying squads of cavalry and lightly equipped infantry to achieve the required speed. The political consequences of these two comparatively small actions were of the first importance.

Laurie and his detachment were then employed in the reduction of some of the many hill forts in the district, notably Sinhgash on 2 March 1818, Purandhar on 16 March and Vasota on 7 April. Laurie was promoted Captain on 1 September 1818 and in the following year was appointed to the Ordnance Department where he remained until 1837. He was awarded a Brevet Majority on 10 January of that year and was promoted Major on 20 January 1839. He transferred, on 30 September 1839, to the Corps of Native Invalids, and retired on 10 August 1842. In retirement he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 November 1854, and died in London on 25 January 1860.

The Royal Artillery Honour Title “KIRKEE” commemorates the services of the 6th Company Bombay Artillery, a detachment of which was present for this action. The title is presently held by 79 (Kirkee) Commando Battery, Royal Artillery, serving as part of 29 Commando Regiment, R.A., in support of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines. This, therefore, is the medal awarded to the commander of a detachment of artillery which won an Honour Title in battle in 1817 and which Title is still in use today.

Sold with research including details of a painting by John Massey Wright of the action at Kirkee, which features Lieutenant Laurie and his guns in the foreground.