Four: Private John Edmunds, 16th Lancers

Ghuznee 1839 (J. C. Edmunds. 16th Queen’s Lancers) naming engraved in reverse centre, fitted with contemporary replacement silver bar suspension; Maharajpoor Star 1843 (Private John Edmonds H.M. 16th Lancers) note surname clumsily corrected from ‘Edwards’, fitted with adapted silver bar suspension with loss to upper point of star; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (John Edmunds 16th Lancers); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 2nd issue, large letter reverse, engraved naming (No. 646 John Edmunds Private 16th Lancers) together with a fine presentation silver snuff box, hallmarked Birmingham 1847, maker’s mark ‘F.C’ for Francis Clark, 85mm x 55mm x 18mm, the lid engraved ‘Presented by the inhabitants of Cambridge to their fellow townsman John Edmunds, (16th Lancers) in appreciation of his services under Majr. Genl. Sir Harry Smith, Bart. G.C.B. at Aliwal, Jany. 28th 1846.’, the base engraved with the arms of Cambridge, the first three with contact pitting, these therefore fine, the L.S. & G.C. nearly very fine (5) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals - The Property of a Gentleman.

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John Edmunds was born in December 1810 at Swaffham-Bulbeck, a small village between Newmarket and Cambridge. He attested for the 16th Lancers at Maidstone on 21 January 1831, aged 20 years 1 month, a servant by trade. Brought before a Regimental Court Martial in 23 May 1832, he was charged with gross insubordination and sentenced to 14 days’ solitary confinement. He was released and restored to rank on 8 June 1832, embarked for India on 29 June, and took up duties there in December 1832. He fought with the regiment in the First Afghan War at the capture of Ghuznee, in the Gwalior campaign at the battle of Maharajpor, and in the Sutlej campaign at the battles of Aliwal and Sobraon. Following his return from India in August 1846, Edmunds went through a bit of a bad patch. In 1847 he went absent without leave in March, May and August, receiving imprisonment and defaulters’ room, and forfeiting the good conduct pay he had accumulated in India in 1838, 1845 and 1846. In 1848 he went absent twice in July and again in February 1849. In May 1849 he received 48 hours’ solitary confinement and 14 days’ Marching Order Drill for quitting stables and breaking out of barracks to avoid riding school drill. This seems to have been the end of his troubles. His good conduct pay was restored in 1851, 1853 and 1855, and he received the ‘silver medal for long & meritorious service.’ Edmunds was discharged at Dublin on 7 June 1856.

Sold with copied discharge papers.