Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Hyderabad 1843 (1643 Pte. Wm. Gardiner, 22nd Ft.) later replacement issue with impressed naming, fitted with riveted scroll suspension, slight contact marks, very fine £400-500

William Gardiner was born in Broughton, Lancashire. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for the 6th Regiment at Leeds on 11 May 1840, aged 20 years. Having been found absent without leave, 17 May-26 August 1840, he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. Soon after his release he was transferred to the 22nd Regiment in January 1841. Serving in India he was present in the Scinde Campaign being awarded the medal for Hyderabad. Gardiner was promoted to Corporal in September 1848 and to Serjeant in September 1849 but was demoted to Private in July 1850 after serving a further one month in prison for some offence. Promoted once more to Corporal in July 1855 and to Serjeant in May 1856. Despite being tried for drunkenness in September 1857, he managed to retain his rank until his discharge at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight on 16 August 1861. His overseas service amounted to nearly 14 years in India and one and a half years in Malta. Having obtained a replacement Hyderabad Medal in the 1870’s/80’s, Gardiner was admitted as an In-Pensioner at Chelsea on 1 January 1887. He died on 3 June 1888. With copied service papers and roll extracts.