Orders, Decorations and Medals

The unique group of seven awarded to Colour Sergeant George Godfrey, 9th Foot, late 13th Light Infantry, one of the earliest recipients of the M.S.M. and a long time Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London

Ghuznee 1839 (G. Godfrey, 13 P.A.L.I.); Cabul 1842 (* No. 702 Sergt. GeorgeGodfrey, 13th or P.A.L.I.*) fitted with steel clip and bar suspension, this fractured near the clip; Defence of Jellalabad 1842, Flying Victory (Clr. Sgt. G. Godfrey, No. 702 * 13th or P.A.L.I.) naming faintly engraved and obscured in parts by contact wear, fitted with steel clip and bar suspension and with the special red and blue ribbon issued by the Colonel of the 13th to be worn with this medal; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Color Serjt. Geo: Godfrey 9th Regt.) one side of bottom clasp detached from suspension rod; Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., 1st issue, dated 1847 on the edge (Color Serjt. George Godfrey 9th Regt. 1-4-) two figures of the date illegible due to contact wear; 13th Foot Order of Merit, silver, for 14 years good conduct (Balmer R214c), unnamed as issued; 9th Foot Regimental Medal, silver (Balmer R201b - one of only three known examples), inscribed on the reverse (Color Sergeant George Godfrey Presented by the Sergeants H.Ms 9th Regt. as a token of esteem) contact marks and edge bruising overal but generally good fine or better, an extremely important and unique group of medals (7) £4000-5000

Ex Lord Cheylesmore collection 1930 and Elson collection 1963.

In the first year of issue, 1847, only 107 M.S.Ms were awarded and dated on the edge.

George Godfrey was born at Watford, Hertfordshire, on 4 June 1805. He started work at 3/6d per week in a turner’s shop in Watford, then sold brushes door-to-door around Cambridgeshire. Later he worked in a doctor’s shop for 18 months for 7/- per week. He later lived near Rickmansworth and worked as a liveried footman and then moved to London where he worked in a grocer’s shop in Fleet Street. On 22 February 1826, at Ludgate Hill, near St Paul’s Cathedral, he attempted to join the 7th Hussars but was too short. He was taken to the Coach and Horses at York Street, Westminster, and enlisted into the 13th Light Infantry. His Captain was a Waterloo veteran. After recruit training, because he could read and write, he was placed in the Orderly Room, copying orders, and was later transferred to the recruiting service, earning 15/- for each man recruited. He was at first active in Soho, then Hounslow, but then had to march via Wells and Glastonbury to Taunton, where he remained for a year, then moving to Wells for a further year. His next move was a march to Gravesend to board the Moffat bound for the East Indies. It took three months and 20 days to arrive at Calcutta, where he met Brevet Captain Havelock and joined the Temperance Movement. In January 1832 he was at Agra, and in April 1835 he married the widow of Lance Sergeant Henry Nicholls. In 1838 the 13th Light Infantry formed part of the 1st Brigade of the Army of the Indus, leaving Kurnaul for Ferozepore and crossing the Indus, through Scinde and Baluchistan to the Bolan Pass, then on to Candahar. During his lifetime his autobiography The Life of George Godfrey was published in 1882, fully detailing his life from childhood to his 77th birthday, and it was sold at the Middle Tower for one shilling. It was later published during the 1890s in the Brigade of Guards’ Magazine as part of a series entitled Brave Soldiers, from which the above information has been culled. The following extracts are also taken from that work:

‘From thence we proceeded to Ghuznee. The fortress, a very strong one, was taken after an assault on the 23rd of July, 1839, by the army of the Indus, under the command of Sir John Keane. From thence the march was continued to Cabool without opposition, that being the capital of Afghanistan, 3rd of August, 1839. The country abounds with hills and valleys; the former are generally barren, the latter very fertile and well watered in many parts, in some places very much reminding us of our own country.’

‘I was writing at the time in the Deputy Assistant Commissary General’s office at the Bala Hissar, and used to go there to and from the camp daily. The Regiment lay in the Bala Hissar during the winter in temporary barracks, and in the spring we went out to camp again. Afterwards a small force was formed, and marched into Kohistan, a few marches from Cabool. We were engaged at a village called Toôtum Durra, and very soon succeeded in clearing the orchards and places round it. We routed the enemy and destroyed the village with very little loss on our part. They retreated across a small river at the back, into the hills. The next place we attacked was a small mud fort called Julgar. After cannonading it for some time a breach was made, and an assault was undertaken, which did not prove so effectual as was expected, on account of the scaling ladders being too short, and not exactly of the right kind, as they were made of doolie poles. Fourteen of our men belonging to the storming party were killed, one of whom was our sergeant-major, an excellent non-commissioned officer, who stood very fairly for a commission. After dusk the enemy made their escape, although closely watched, on account of the faithlessness of some Jaunbazees (Infantry) employed in our service,’

‘In the month of October, 1841, we left Cabool, thinking we were going on towards the provinces, but soon found that we had to force the Khoord Cabool Pass, the Tazeen Pass, the Jugdulluck Pass, and by forced marches enter into and defend the walled fortress of Jellalabad for nearly six months, then return over the same ground under the command of General Pollock. We defeated the enemy again and again at various places, wherever they withstood our progress on the road to Cabool. Day by day we saw many parts of the road, where the dried skins and bones of all sorts, and pieces of clothing lay, that belonged to the more than half-famished army which retreated from Cabool in the winter [January 1842]. H,M. 44th Regiment was destroyed with the exception of about thirty men. Two men belonging to a troop of European Horse Artillery, commanded by Captain Nichols (a native of Watford), were taken prisoners, the guns, ammunition, and baggage of all sorts fell into the hands of the enemy. The native troops and thousands of followers shared the same fate, and only one officer (Dr. Brydon) came to Jellalabad to tell the sad tale. Afterwards, he was shut in during the siege of Lucknow, at the time of the Indian Mutiny.’

‘As I expected the regiment would shortly return to England, and feeling a strong desire to remain in the country, I obtained leave to exchange with a colour-sergeant in the 14th company of the 9th regiment of foot, who wished to go to England, and who was only one day’s march from us at Sabathoo. Thirteen privates obtained the same kind of leave; and on the morning of the 1st of August, 1843, we left the 13th or Prince Albert’s Light Infantry to join that fine old corps the 9th or East Norfolk.’

‘Before I proceed further, perhaps it may be interesting to the military reader and others, for me to state some things recorded in my regimental accounts book when with the 13th: “With the army of the Indus during the campaigns of 1839, ‘40, ‘41, and ‘42. present at the storming of Ghuznee, 23rd July, 1839; of the fortof Toôtum Durra, and the attack on Joogah in the Kohistan valley, 1840. In the several engagements in forcing the passes from Cabool to Jellalabad, 1841; in the defence of that place, and the general action in front of it, 7th April, 1842; Jugdulluck, 8th September; Tazeen, 13th September; and at the recapture of Cabool, 15th September, 1842. Medal for Ghuznee, medal for the defence and general action at Jellalabad, medal for the recapture of Cabool, Signed H. Havelock, Brevet-Major. Distinguished himself with No. 4 Company which was attached to the right column in the attack of Mahomed Akbar’s camp, 7th April, 1842; and was rewarded by promotion to the rank of colour-sergeant on recommendation. Signed, H. Havelock, Brevet-Major.” I have a silver medal of merit for 14 years’ good conduct in the 13th, with the words “Medal of Merit”, the sphinx, bugle, and the number of the regiment upon it. And the above officer was the means of my receiving a silver medal for meritorious service, with an annuity of £15, on the ground of distinguished service at Jellalabad, 7th April, 1842; recommended of course by the late Colonel Davis, commanding the 9th Foot, which came to hand shortly after I arrived home from the service, 14th May, 1847. This was felt by me an occasion for great gratitude to those officers, and to our beloved Queen, for granting the same.’

‘In the same account book the following is written: “Present in the battles fought against the Seikhs, Moodkee, 18th December, 1845; Ferozeshuhur, 21st and 22nd December, 1845; Sobraon, 10th February, 1846. Signed, J. N. Vigors, Lieutenant commanding No. 4 Company.” I am in possession of a medal for Moodkee, and two clasps for the actions of Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon. At the same time I may mention that the sergeants of the 9th presented me with a handsome silver medal, made at Hammond’s or Hamilton’s, Tank Square, Calcutta, on which is the following inscription, ‘Colour-Sergeant George Godfrey, presented by the sergeants of H.M. 9th regiment as a token of esteem.’ On the reverse is the figure of Britannia, excellently formed; underneath it, IX. It must have cost my old comrade sergeants a good sum. I prize it much as a remembrancer of them, and from a sense of lasting gratitude.’

‘During the Afghan and Sutledge campaigns, I marched 2,300 miles without tasting any intoxicating drink. I was very much surprised after I was invalided from the 9th in Meerut, and reached the boats at Ghurmuckteser Ghaut, which were to take us down the river Ganges, to hear that the regiment had received an order to be broken up, and give volunteers to other corps, and march to Calcutta for England, as it had served a much shorter period in the country than others before it had done. I was appointed acting sergeant-major to about three hundred invalids. After about three weeks, the cholera invaded our ranks, and took nine or ten men from our number. Arriving at Calcutta, we remained there for a short time, and then went on board the Southampton, a fine vessel commanded by Captain Bowen, on the 31st December, 1846.’

‘After arriving at Gravesend... we proceeded by omnibus to St Mary’s Barracks, Chatham, and stayed there till the 14th May, 1847. That morning we were paraded for the last time, then we proceeded by van to Gravesend, thence by steamboat to Blackwall, then by train drawn by ropes to Fenchurch station. Euston station being reached, we were taken to Watford, my native town. Railways were quite a new mode of travelling to me. Then I, with my wife whom I brought home from India, had the great pleasure of meeting once more my dear aged father and mother.

‘Fortunately, I was not long out of employment, and received Government pay again, as staff-sergeant in the pension office for several years. The late Lord de Ros [Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard] used his influence with the late Lord Combermere, constable of the Tower; and in consequence of my long and arduous services in India, in course of time I was appointed yeoman warder, and his lordship signed my warrant, 2nd October, 1855.’

In the Census of 1861, George Godfrey is shown living at the Tower with his wife, aged 63, a British subject born in the East Indies, and a female servant aged 40. On 2 April, 1871, he was residing at the Tower with his second wife, Caroline, and a step-daughter, aged 23, and in the 1881 Census he was the oldest Yeoman Warder residing at the Tower, then shown as aged 75. He died on 15 January, 1888, and was buried at Bow, the following short obituary notice appearing in the Guards’ Magazine of that year:

“Warder George Godfrey, aged 82, and for 33 years a Warder at the Tower of London died on Sunday the 15th January and was buried by the Chaplain on the 21st. He did duty up to very near his end and was a remarkable sight with a row of seven medals across his breast.”

With grateful thanks to Ian McInnes, author of The Yeomen of the Guard, from which the above information is taken.