Miniature Medals

Three: Captain W. H. Padday, 36th (attached 47th) Sikhs

1914 Star, with clasp Capt., 36/Sikhs) gilded and with corrections to naming; British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) nearly extremely fine (3) £250-300

William Hamilton Padday was killed in action in France and Flanders on 21 December 1914 whilst attached to the 47th Sikhs. His name is commemorated on the Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial, France.

Sold with copied detailed obituaries, including picture of recipient from The Bond of Sacrifice and The Roll of Honour, from which the following is extracted: ‘On the night of the 20th and 21st December the regiment had been ordered to take a trench, which was found to be occupied at both ends by Germans with machine guns. Previous experience had shown that the best way to dislodge the enemy from such positions was by parties of bomb-throwers creeping up and throwing bombs among them. Captain Padday was in charge of a regimental party of bomb throwers whom he had himself trained, and went off with the party to dislodge the Germans. A sepoy who was with him said he had thrown two bombs, and was preparing to throw a third when he was shot through the head at close range. It was impossible to recover the body at the time, and a retirement being just then ordered the party had to make their way back.’