Orders, Decorations and Medals

Punniar Star 1843 (Private Thomas Shea, H.M. 40th Regt.) fitted with original brass hook, nearly extremely fine and very rare to this regiment £350-400

Thomas Shea was born at Mallow, County Cork, in 1819, and enlisted at Cork on 15 December 1840. During 1842, he took part with his regiment in the 1st Afghan War, including operations around Candahar and Ghuznee and the advance to Cabul. In December of the following year he took part in the campaign in Gwalior and fought at the battle of Punniar, at which battle only a small number of the 40th were present, the remainder being present at the battle of Maharajpoor, 12 miles distant. It appears that Shea was attached to the army of General Grey in the capacity of orderly, or batman, to an attached officer. Sold with copy service papers which confirm the award of the Punniar Star.